Palookaville
Palookaville
R | 25 October 1996 (USA)
Palookaville Trailers

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. Despite a bungled jewelry store heist which exposes their incompetence as criminals, a fateful event (and an old black-and-white film) convinces them that they can pull off an armored-truck robbery. While they are busy plotting their caper, their dysfunctional families spin out of control, all around them.

Reviews
GamerTab

That was an excellent one.

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Reptileenbu

Did you people see the same film I saw?

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AnhartLinkin

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

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Deanna

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

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cinecarl

I love movies about outsiders and this is one of my favorites.Forget that it's supposed to be a heist movie; the three friends were never capable of that level of coordination. But there is a remarkable chemistry between them and paricularly with the women in the story. Gallo is quite magnetic in the lead and has a wonderful rapport with both his girlfriend and an older hooker.Forsythe can be over-the-top in many films, but here he settles down and adds a touching counterpoint to Gallo. I mostly credit director Taylor for this small treasure because he has shown the same kind of class in his Napoleon film, "Emperor's New Clothes." Check out both of these films.

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GillianS

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.

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George Parker

"Palookaville" tells of three schmucks who are determined to be crooks but somehow just can't seem to mastermind even a simple burglary. Surprisingly well scripted, acted, and directed, given the plot, this film develops and maintains the integrity of it's inept principals while walking a tightrope between comedy and drama, avoiding falling headlong into either genre. An enjoyable little flick for channel surfers.

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JoeChristmasPunk

A comedy about a three friends that plan to make a profitable crime. Sounds fun. But the truth: I was bored. There were some moments that were truly funny like the beginning where they accidentally rob a bakery and steal sweets. And at the end when they try to rob an armored truck and the outcome. But honestly everything between was boring to me. Each one had their own dramatic story on why they should take a "life of crime", which contained no humor or heart. I could care less for these guys except William Forsythe whom had dogs in the movie. Everyone likes dogs. A suggestion: check out "Bottle Rocket". Somewhat the same plot but tons more funny.

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