Betrayal, lust, greed, sex, kidnapping, a beautiful blonde vixen and the steamy red-hot Florida sunshine, hey what more could you ask from a film!
Most people I've talked with didn't enjoy this movie, but I clearly disagree I feel this film is one of the better I have viewed in sometime. Though Palmetto has more plot twist and story misdirection than a city slicker being lost in a small town, Palmetto sure leaves the viewer guessing and highly entertained. The setting of a small Florida town fits the storyline perfect thanks to Volker Schlondorff crafting it along with the James Hadley Chase novel. You finally figure the whole plot out in the end, and many like myself didn't like the ending it's like starting over as Harry Barber (Woody Harrelson) once again finds himself in prison. This proves the old adage wrong that you learn from your mistakes, but not in Harry Barber's case as he is once again screwed. Believe me you learn from experience, anyone should no better than to trust a cunning-beauty Mrs. Rhea Malroux (Elisabeth Shue) who plans a kidnapping scheme to good to be true. Because people who plan are only planning for their benefit. So Palmetto has some very basic moral meanings to it some like Harry Barber learn the hardway and remain in mediocrity, while others like Mrs. Donnelly aka Rhea Malroux crash in the end but to only drag others down with them. The twisting of the script and film's setting are probably Palmetto's better qualities. All good performances from Harrelson, Shue,and Gershon. Just to mention Gina Gershon and Elizabeth Shue have beauty and looks that would make any man foam at the mouth. I hope to continue to see Shue and Gershon in many films to come they were the two driving forces of Palmetto. I recommend this film to anyone, but remember you must pay close attention throughout the whole film or will you be as lost as city person in the wilderness.score 8/10
Brian-272 30 September 2000
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0465900/35925
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