Palo Alto Review

Palo Alto 4/5

Beneath its colorful surface is a lot of depth.

One of James Franco’s dreams came true last year, and it was to have his novel get a film adaptation. Gia Coppola, the daughter of Gian-Carlo Coppola and granddaughter of Francis Ford Coppola writes and directs "Palo Alto," a high school drama with a young and talented cast of actors that is similar in potential to the young cast of actors in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

But Palo Alto isn’t light, nor really all comedic. It’s a drama based around a group of rebellious high school kids in an urban environment and their experiences with drugs, alcohol, sex, and violence.

What stands above all is the acting. I was most impressed by Nat Wolff who plays Fred, a heavy smoker who is out control and gets his friend Teddy (Jack Kilmer) in a lot of predicaments. Apparently Wolff was the lead singer for the Naked Brothers Band which also had a television series that premiered on Nickelodeon some time ago. I would have never guessed the child star then would grow up to become some such a confident and talented young actor.


After playing a basketball game with students from school, Fred (Nat Wolff) sits down to talk to Emily (Zoe Levin) who, is offering sexual favors.

Like Wolff, Emma Roberts is a former Nickelodeon star who is showing lots of potential early in her career. Her character is April, a virgin soccer player who is coached by Mr. B (James Franco). Problems begin to surface for her as she struggles to cope with the pressures of school work and her sexual insecurities.


The Camera pans across a chain-linked fence and reveals April smoking a cigarette outside the school's soccer field. This shot is enough to conclude that Gia is a naturally skilled filmmaker, just like her relatives.

Joining Francis, Carmine, Roman, and Sofia, Gia is further proof of the Coppola family’s innate musical ear. Not only does she carefully use music that is relevant and accurate to what today’s youth listens to, she also complements it with scene and tonal montage. Gia has taken a similar approach to what Sofia did back in the late 90’s when she adapted the novel and had Air compose the original soundtrack for the feature-length film “The Virgin Suicides.” In “Palo Alto,” a scene where the central teenage protagonists attend a house party, Die Antwoord’s “Enter the Ninja” is used to energize the scenario and stress a tone of rebellion, helping to develop the theme of adolescent frustration and restlessness. “I am your butterfly. I need your protection.” Like her Aunt, Gia explores the world where women are treated as slaves and that they need the ‘protection’ at the house party they attend.

Blood Orange makes the most contributions to the soundtrack. Lead vocals Devonte Haynes writes and composes a stellar song “Palo Alto” that will soon get much attention by underground music critics in the coming weeks.

Beneath its colorful surface is depth which, most viewers won’t be able to acknowledge unless they take the time to find it. This is similar in viewing Sofia Coppola’s films which include “Marie Antoinette” (2006) or her most recent film “The Bling Ring” (2013) With a deeper analysis, you'll acknowledge the quality and execution.