Palmer
APPLE TV+Fisher Stevens directs Justin Timberlake in Apple TV’s newest drama film, Palmer. Timberlake plays Eddie Palmer, although he is rarely referred to as Eddie, a man returning to his hometown after a long stint in prison. At first, his re-entry back into a mundane town life is mired by his past actions and criminal record, but a surprising friendship with a young boy called Sam (Ryder Allen) urges him toward a purpose.
Palmer is a very predictable movie, but that doesn’t make it a bad one. Interestingly, it works best when it plays manipulatively on audience emotion. Stevens is never subtle about the reactions he wants to evoke, but he invests so much into achieving it that he elevates Palmer just above mere Oscar bait and avoids falling down the alley of a Lifetime original movie. This may not have been the case if not for eight year old Ryder Allen.
Allen’s performance is the crux of the film. He is infectiously charming as Sam, a prepubescent boy who is already clearly comfortable with expressing himself. He dresses proudly in pink, wears makeup and plays with dolls. When he wants to join a princess club, Palmer suggests it's only for girls, because no boys are shown in the advertisement. Sam takes that as a bonus, ‘well, I can be the first’. One refreshing thing about Sam is that he never questions who he is. He is bullied and mocked by children and adults alike, which clearly upsets him, but he is proud of who he is and doesn’t do anything to change for anyone else.
This attitude is the lesson Palmer needs to learn. People’s prejudices about Sam do not define him, just like Palmer’s criminal past should not define his future. This is the ultimate message of the film. Timberlake takes a while to warm to the role – his attempts at broodiness in the first half just come across as poorly executed. He and Allen do have a good onscreen connection and it’s these moments of bonding and hardship in which Timberlake gets to show us he’s not all that bad.
Some scenes are hard to forget. A one shot of Sam, crying, tearing after Palmer as he is taken away in a police car is truly traumatising. Anger and fear intertwine when Palmer confronts an old friend of his who had bullied Sam – anger at the situation, but fear that Palmer’s righteous intentions will backfire. Stevens shows he can shoot some interesting moments when he has something to say.
Palmer has enough emotion, enough drama and enough warmth to keep this movie from feeling too weighty. People may come for Timberlake, but they’ll stay for Allen.