Overall a very well directed and shot indie film, if you love coming of age stories and representation of real teenage youth this is the film for you. An unflinching portrait of adolescent lust, boredom, and selfdestruction, palo alto is a teen movie for the ages an astonishing debut feature from writerdirector gia coppola, based on the book palo alto. Gia was introduced to the wine industry by her grandfather, francis ford coppola, and has been involved with the family winery for over a decade. As you probably can tell, were fullon obsessed with gia coppola s first featurelength film palo alto. Coppola used the same crew as her previous, smaller films, filmed the main character teddys bedroom scenes in jack kilmers bedroom the actor who played him, and even had cast members stay at her mothers house she did their laundry. When turning james francos book of short stories palo alto into a film, firsttime director gia coppola said she decided to choose the stories that were easiest to do cinematically and. Based on james francos book of short stories, palo alto. Palo alto is adapted from a short story collection by james franco in which he made fitful record of his own highschool. The gist of the critique was that franco had claimed as fiction true events from all.
Trailer for gia coppolas palo alto starring emma roberts. Aug 30, 20 gia coppola proves to have quite the eye if not quite the natural storytelling instinct of her cinematic kin, serving up a remarkably assured feature debut with palo alto. And with her first feature film, palo alto, out today, she joins grandfather francis ford coppola, aunt sofia coppola, and cousins nicolas cage. Gia coppola s directorial debut examines adolescent ennui. The film premiered in the orizzonti section of the 70th venice international film festival, as well as the 38th toronto international film festival and the telluride film festival in colorado. Palo alto star emma roberts recounts her teenage years. Please help improve this section by adding citations. The next great coppola family business gia coppola s debut, palo alto, an engaging and poetic teenage drama based on james francos stories, ushers in another generation of filmmaking. Teddy, one of the tortured teens in gia coppola s debut feature palo alto muses to his peers. Its a shock our walls arent plastered with promo posters yet, but we are playing the. Gias debut feature film, entitled palo alto, is based on the eponymous book of short stories by james franco. Palo alto by gia coppola emma roberts, james franco, jack. Such was the case for her debut film, palo alto, inspired by james francos novel by the same name.
Gia coppola joins family business with featurefilm first palo alto gia cappola says she was drawn to james francos book palo alto for its rich portrait of teen angst. May 04, 2014 gia coppola, franciss granddaughter, makes her directorial debut with palo alto, which she adapted from james francos short story collection of the same name. If its all going to be over anyway, then why does it matter. A trailer has been released for gia coppola s high school drama palo alto based on a book of short stories by james franco who costars in the film, the film features interconnected. Features a bonus essay by james franco on gia coppola s film adaptation. Based on the novel of the same name by franco, director gia coppola s debut shes the granddaughter of francis ford coppola and the niece of sofia coppola is a mesmerizing look at the lives of high school teens in palo alto, calif. What gia has done is shes taken certain stories from it and made a pretty realistic take on high school and teenage life, he. Its where your interests connect you with your people. Check out this post on refinery29 about gia coppola. James francos story collection traces the lives of a group of teenagers as they experiment with vices of all kinds. Top ten books photo by autumn durald gia coppola is an american film director, screenwriter, and actress, who, as the granddaughter of francis ford coppola and the niece of sofia coppola, manages to stand out in her own right. James francos story collection traces the lives of a group of teenagers as they experiment with vices of all kinds, struggle with their families and one another, and succumb to selfdestructive, often heartless. Director and screenwriter gia coppola has done an amazing job of distilling a cohesive narrative from francos disparate stories. Gia coppola proves to have quite the eye if not quite the natural storytelling instinct of her cinematic kin, serving up a remarkably assured feature debut with palo alto.
Watch james franco in the exclusive trailer for gia coppola s palo alto. Coppola made her directorial feature film debut with palo alto, an adaption of james francos short story collection of the same name. An unflinching portrait of adolescent lust, boredom, and selfdestruction, palo alto is an astonishing debut from writerdirector gia coppola, the latest member of the coppola film dynasty. And though director gia coppola isnt working on sirks scale, shes no slouch, either. Sofia coppola is her aunt and francis her granddad, but the third generation of directors in the family has james franco to thank for her debut feature, palo alto fri 10 oct 2014 08. Gia coppola is a woman of many talents an accomplished photographer and filmmaker, as well as amateur bartender and wine enthusiast. Palo alto by james franko story gia coppola screenplay. Books to read before the summer blockbuster movies come out. He trusted coppola to choose which stories from palo alto shed carry over to the film version, and only offered up his advice and opinions when she reached out to consult him. The gist of the critique was that franco had claimed as fiction true. The films adaptation brings james francos book palo alto and short stories to life. Palo alto is adapted from james francos book of short stories, and her film is moody and funny and just a little bit gritty. After graduating from bard college with a degree in photography, she subsequently has seen her work published in numerous magazines, directed commercials, and recently finished writing.
Palo alto is a collection of short stories from golden globe winning actor, james franco. Gia coppola, 27, is the director of the new film palo alto, based on james francos 2010 book of short stories a fairly scandalous piece of work focusing on the sexanddeath impulses of a. Based on the first book of short stories by james franco, the movie stars franco as a football coach who takes a too. Palo alto is a collection of linked short stories by american actor, writer, and director james franco. Its a drifty, appealing story, set in the northern california city that gives the movie its title, about that twilight. Coppola was free to change the story and characters in. April emma roberts is a virtuous soccer star whose impressive athleticism masks a deeprooted timidity.
Its a cool evening in central california and the bored pack of lanky youths are casually contemplating a classmates suicide. Franco became an actor in gia coppola s feature debut, palo alto. Palo alto is adapted from a short story collection by james franco in. Gia coppola, franciss granddaughter, makes her directorial debut with palo alto, which she adapted from james francos short story collection of the same name. With palo alto, another coppola, another show the new. Franco wasnt afraid to let the inexperienced director adapt his book. At a new york press conference, franco himself noted that when he wrote the stories. Born to francis ford coppolas son giancarlo who was born in 1967 and killed in a tragic speedboating accident in 1986, gia was seven months away from being born when her father was killed. Gia coppola on james franco, family ties and palo alto. Palo alto book by james franco official publisher page. Palo alto is a 20 american drama film written and directed by gia coppola, based on james franco s 2010 short story collection of the same name.
Franco, as well as being an actor, artist and soontobe oscars host, studied writing at brooklyn college. Gia coppola adapts palo alto, a short story collection by. Features a bonus essay by james franco on gia coppolas film adaptation. The stories are about teenagers and their experiments with vices and their struggles with their families. Watch james franco in the exclusive trailer for gia. Features a bonus essay by james franco on gia coppola. Gia coppola on directing palo alto, adapting james franco.
May 08, 2014 thankfully the angst is at a minimum in gia coppolas directorial debut. In the opening scene of gia coppola s debut film palo alto, adapted from james francos book of short stories, two teenagers sit in a car in a parking lot, smoking, drinking, bullshitting. The collection was published on october 19, 2010, by scribners. Tumblr is a place to express yourself, discover yourself, and bond over the stuff you love. Her grandfather is famed director francis ford coppola, and her aunt is sofia coppola, who created cult films such as the virgin suicides, marie antoinette, and the bling ring. The film stars franco alongside emma roberts, jack kilmer, nat wolff and zoe levin. Gia coppolas palo alto feels like a film of larry clarks set in a wealthier neighborhood that wants to show that the kind of crime and moral vacuousness that exist in certain impoverished, but the issue at hand is that the film doesnt seem to want to fully commit. May 09, 2014 the kids in gia coppolas palo alto move as through a dream. Palo alto by james franco overdrive rakuten overdrive. Palo alto now a provocative and impressive variety film from director gia coppola francis ford coppola s granddaughterstarring emma roberts, james franco, nat wolff, and val kilmerthe fiction debut from james franco that vogue called compelling and gutsy. The first two minutes of gia coppola s atmospheric film adaptation of james francos short story collection, palo alto stories, would be enough to.
Now a provocative and impressive variety film from director gia coppola francis ford coppola s granddaughterstarring emma roberts, james franco, nat wolff, and val kilmerthe fiction debut from james franco that vogue called compelling and gutsy. Palo alto is the accumulation of his studies, and a life spent growing up in the palo alto area. Emma roberts on set, photo by gia coppola you always think youll never forget what it was like to be a teenager, says emma roberts, star of gia coppola s first feature film, palo alto but then you get older and completely forget everything. Gia coppola makes her feature directorial debut with this drama adapted from a series of short stories by james franco, who stars as a soccer coach in the titular california town where bored teens begin to stir up trouble. Directed and written by gia coppola, who here extends the family dedication to filmmaking into a third generation, this adaptation of james francos short story collection palo alto stories. Palo alto is a 20 american drama film written and directed by gia coppola, based on james francos 2010 short story collection of the same name. Though it might seem unfair to compare a late masterpiece by a hollywood great with a crowdfunded indie debut, sirk excelled at precisely the thing palo alto reaches for.
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