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Palookaville

  • 1995
  • R
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
2.7K
YOUR RATING
William Forsythe, Vincent Gallo, and Adam Trese in Palookaville (1995)
ComedyCrime

3 friends try to break into a jewelry store to get easy money and change their lives but end up in a pastry shop. Will they have better luck next time?3 friends try to break into a jewelry store to get easy money and change their lives but end up in a pastry shop. Will they have better luck next time?3 friends try to break into a jewelry store to get easy money and change their lives but end up in a pastry shop. Will they have better luck next time?

  • Director
    • Alan Taylor
  • Writer
    • David Epstein
  • Stars
    • William Forsythe
    • Vincent Gallo
    • Adam Trese
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    2.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Alan Taylor
    • Writer
      • David Epstein
    • Stars
      • William Forsythe
      • Vincent Gallo
      • Adam Trese
    • 13User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination total

    Photos24

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    Top cast26

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    William Forsythe
    William Forsythe
    • Sid Dunleavy
    Vincent Gallo
    Vincent Gallo
    • Russell Pataki
    Adam Trese
    Adam Trese
    • Jerry
    Gareth Williams
    Gareth Williams
    • Ed the Cop
    LisaGay Hamilton
    LisaGay Hamilton
    • Betty, Jerry's Wife
    Bridgit Ryan
    • Enid
    Kim Dickens
    Kim Dickens
    • Laurie, Russell's Girlfriend
    Suzanne Shepherd
    Suzanne Shepherd
    • Mother
    Nicole Burdette
    • Chris
    Robert LuPone
    Robert LuPone
    • Ralph
    • (as Robert Lupone)
    Sam Coppola
    Sam Coppola
    • Mr. Kott, Money Truck Driver
    Frances McDormand
    Frances McDormand
    • June
    Walter Bryant
    • Money Truck Driver
    Douglas Seale
    Douglas Seale
    • Old Man
    William Riker
    • Old Arthur
    Nesbitt Blaisdell
    Nesbitt Blaisdell
    • Old Fritz
    Leonard Jackson
    Leonard Jackson
    • Bus Driver
    William Duell
    • Money Truck Guard
    • Director
      • Alan Taylor
    • Writer
      • David Epstein
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    6.52.6K
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    Featured reviews

    9douggers

    Criminal masterminds they're not

    When Marlon Brando uttered the immortal line "I got a one-way ticket to "Palookaville" (in "On the Waterfront"), he was referring to his current life as washed-up boxer, crumb and stooge for the mob, living out his life in a kind of moral limbo, doing rotten things and not quite realizing their import until it's too late. The creators of this fine, quirky film reputedly got the idea for their movie from the line quoted above. Their idea of "Palookaville" is a forgotten nothing of a town where oddballs and misfits abound and where a job in the local pizzeria constitutes a career. The movie centers around a trio of professional losers, whose attempt to rob a jewelry store nets them nothing but some pastry from the bakery they break into by mistake. Their efforts to hold up armored cars yield similar results. Nearly everyone in their orbit seems to be a screw up, including their hapless girlfriends.

    In spite of their criminal bent, our would-be crooks manage to be endearing (each robbery is going to be their "last job"), as is the entire movie. You find yourself rooting for them and when the intended burglary of the armored car gets them the town's highest honor (they did return the money, which makes them heroes to the town, which doesn't seem to realize what they were up to) you almost want to stand up and cheer. William Forsythe ("Gotti") anchors the film with his performance and his two dogs manage to steal several scenes. Vincent Gallo and Adam Trese are also fine as his accomplices, as is Frances McDormand, in a far-too-small role that for once emphasizes her good looks. This offbeat, comic film is definitely worth a look.
    9SKG-2

    Interesting twist on "heist" film

    For reasons which, to me anyway, are completely unfair, every heist movie released since 1992's RESEVOIR DOGS has been compared to that film. I agree that film was great, and obviously there have been rip-offs, but not every heist film is, and PALOOKAVILLE, a wonderful surprise, is an example. In fact, if there's any film this should be compared to, it's the 1950's Italian movie BIG DEAL ON MADONNA STREET. Like that film, this is not about hardened criminals planning a heist, but about ordinary guys who try to be criminals while juggling their lives(one is married and has a kid, one takes care of his dogs, and even the third, who's more of the criminal mind than his friends, is dreaming of going with his girlfriend to California). It's also like BOTTLE ROCKET, which is also about inexperienced thieves, but where those guys, for the most part, want to be criminals, these guys just see it as an escape. But director Alan Taylor and writer David Epstein aren't making a tract, they're making a film about characters we can relate to, and while it lags at times, this is surprising, funny, and touching. Also, the performers are all good(this is an early look at the talents of Kim Dickens and Vincent Gallo). One of the more under-rated films of the year.
    bob the moo

    Slight but well written and well acted

    In New Jersey three friends are out of work and out of prospects for improvement. Their first attempt at crime fails when they break into a bakery they mistake for the back of a jewellers shop. Russell's brother in law is a cop who knows that he is up to no good, however Russell still wants the trio to do one reasonable job to help them onto their feet. The next step is the robbery of an armoured car. However, are they bad at being bad or just to good to be bad.

    There have been quite a few films that make comedy of inept criminals, however this film is more than that. Rather than being figures of fun, these are good people without much hope who resort to crime in rather amateur way, for example to help plan their job they hire a 1950's crime thriller called `Armoured Car Robbery' from the video store. There are no pratfalls or physical humour but instead gentle stuff that is amusing.

    The title comes from the line in On The Waterfront in which Marlon Brando bemoans his failure as a fighter as a `one-way ticket to Palookaville' or being a loser. The three men of the title are losers, but they are good, likeable people in difficult situations. Happily the film allows us into their lives so that they are not just `inept criminals' caricatures. The dialogue is involving but also snappy and witty. The strong cast help this enormously. Gallo is really good in the lead and the actual moment when he realises that he may be in a tough spot but he is not a bad person is really quite touching. Forsythe is good and wears his sensitive side well on his sleeve. Trese has the most difficult character – the danger would be he becomes the `drama' side of the film, but he handles it well with good support from his on-screen wife Hamilton. The support cast of family and lovers all are really believable characters, although the film really belongs to the lead three.

    Overall I suspect many will find this slight and not as funny as they expected. However I found it a well written (sharp yet real dialogue) with respect for it's characters – finding humour in their situations and approach rather than making them comedy characters. Add this to some well pitched performances and it makes for a film that does what it sets out to do and does it better than many of it's ilk.
    6=G=

    A fun little flick about wannabee crooks gone right.

    "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.
    9ed.wenn

    Top Stuff!

    Basically this is one of the finest films I saw the year it came out. American indie comedy/character cinema at its best. The trouser sniffing scene almost got me ejected from the cinema for laughing too loudly. This movie is an absolute triumph. Around the same time I caught 'Big Night', 'The Daytrippers' & 'Buffalo 66' - all great films. If you liked any of them you'll love 'Palookaville'.

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Loosely based on Italo Calvino's short stories "Theft in a Cake Shop", "Desire in November", and "Transit Bed".
    • Quotes

      Russ: I'm not talking about a life of crime, just a momentary shift in lifestyle.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: 101 Dalmatians/Hype!/The Crucible/Palookaville/Ridicule (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Doo Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing)
      Written by Roger Troutman and Larry Troutman

      ©1982 Saja Music Co., BMI/Songs of Lastrada, BMI

      Performed by Zapp

      Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.

      By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

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    FAQ19

    • How long is Palookaville?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 25, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Город хулиганов
    • Filming locations
      • Bayonne, New Jersey, USA
    • Production companies
      • Playhouse International Pictures
      • Public Television Playhouse Inc.
      • Redwave Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $365,284
    • Gross worldwide
      • $365,284
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 32m(92 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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