Palookaville (1995)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Alan Taylor

Writer (WGA):

David Epstein (written by)

Release Date:

25 October 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

One foot in the door. The other one in the gutter.

Plot:

Jerry and his two pals, Russ and Syd, are just looking for some easy money to help them break out of their nowhere lives in their nowhere town...

Plot Keywords:

Armored Truck | Dysfunctional Family | Robbery | Drill | Toddler

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

William Forsythe	...	Sid Dunleavy
Vincent Gallo	...	Russell Pataki
Adam Trese	...	Jerry
Gareth Williams	...	Ed the Cop
Lisa Gay Hamilton	...	Betty, Jerry's Wife
Bridgit Ryan	...	Enid
Kim Dickens	...	Laurie, Russell's Girlfriend
Suzanne Shepherd	...	Mother
Nicole Burdette	...	Chris
Robert LuPone	...	Ralph (as Robert Lupone)
Sam Coppola	...	Mr. Kott, Money Truck Driver
Frances McDormand	...	June
Walter Bryant	...	Money Truck Driver
Douglas Seale	...	Old Man
William Riker	...	Old Arthur

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Germany:6 | Spain:7 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Bayonne, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Playhouse International Pictures

Trivia:

The title comes from Marlon Brando's monologue in On the Waterfront (1954)

Quotes:

Russ: The thief gets the benefit of the doubt. Most crooks in this country use cap guns.

Movie Connections:

References The Big Blue (1988/I)

Soundtrack:

Lovin' You

Funny, Witty, Charming

In the vein of "Small Time Crooks" and "Trapped in Paradise," "Palookaville" tells the story of three screw-up, would-be criminals (Forsythe, Gallo and Trese) and their quest for the perfect crime. The film opens with a foiled jewelry store robbery that find the trio in a bakery instead of its neighboring store. The whole situation is goofy in an endearing way, especially when we find Trese crouched on the floor, hiding from police yet all the while chowing down doughnuts and brownies. With this film, Parker creates a familiar oddball trio with, while not completely appealing personalities, an overall charming combination. Forsythe's seriousness plus Gallo's wit and Trese's goofiness makes a film that made me laugh out loud and left me smiling, but in an independent rather that cheesy way. Definitely recommended.