Palookaville (1995)

Director:

Alan Taylor

Writer (WGA):

David Epstein (written by)

Release Date:

25 October 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

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:

Ineptitude | Armored Truck | Bakery | Chase | Dog Attack

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

Also Known As:

Amateurs, Les (France) [fr]
Kleine Gangster, grosse Kohle (Germany) [de]
Palookaville (Spain) [es]
Palookaville (Greece) (festival title) [el]

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: Why don't I take you to California. You can have fresh squeezed orange juice every day. If you've got a back yard there, you've got fresh fruit.

Movie Connections:

References The Big Blue (1988/I)

Soundtrack:

Me Tienes Sufriendo

Not a heist movie!

I thought this was a beautiful movie. It's not a heist movie first and foremost - though that's its hook. There's a lot more going on and that's where its appeal lies. Each of three central characters has his own love story; one is married with a young child, his lack of employment means his wife is the sole bread-winner - robbing him of his manhood and creating tension. Another is involved in a affair with a young neighbour - to his shame. He's pig-headed and arrogant and strings her along with dreams of West-cost flight. He's confidant is played with usual appeal by Frances McDormand - here the "hooker with the heart of gold". The last - and the soul of the movie - is obsessed with a lost love (something we can probably all relate to at one time or another), he meets a fellow social outcast and the half-assed love that blossoms is where the true joy is to be found in this flick.

Back to the plot; our 3 hapless, unemployed, broke heroes decide a "momentary shift in lifestyles" as opposed to a life of crime is their quick-fix hit for improving their lifestyle - queue the proposed heist.

It's low-key and not for all, but I'm a total cynic and a grumpy git and I loved this movie. Kudos to all involved, especially William Forsythe.