PALMER tells the moving story of Eddie Palmer, once the golden boy of his high-school football team, who returns to his tiny Louisiana hometown after spending twelve long years behind bars for attempted murder. The film opens with Eddie trying to piece his life back together while living under the same roof as his grandmother Vivian, a quietly tough woman whose steady kindness helps hold the family together.
Hoping for a routine, Eddie lands a gig cleaning classrooms at the local school and slowly learns how to navigate life on the outside. Yet memories of his crime shadow every step-he is eyed with distrust by neighbors, job openings slip away, and the fragile sense of freedom he has gained always feels one slip away from disappearing again.
Everything shifts the day he meets Sam, a bright, big-hearted boy whose moods spill across his face like paint. Sam lives with his mother Shelly, a young woman mired in addiction who often leaves him in Vivians care while drifting in and out of their lives. Sam refuses to act tough-he treasures princess dolls, twirling dresses, and tea parties-and the kids around him mock his spark at every turn.
At first Eddie keeps his distance, but little by little he and Sam start to trust each other. Their bond grows slowly and quietly, forged through small acts of kindness, shared jokes, and a common history of feeling left out. Then, when Vivian dies without warning, Sam suddenly finds himself living with Eddie. Even though Eddie is still on parole, he decides to look after the boy and, for once, to defy the rules that say he cant.
As the weeks pass, Eddie begins to grasp what real redemption means: its not only about getting his own life back, but also about giving Sam a safer, happier one. Trouble arrives the moment Shelly reappears, determined to wrestle custody away from him. Understanding that her temper and her new partner could hurt Sam, Eddie stands between them and the boy, even though that might land him back in prison.
The films high point comes in the small, tense courtroom, where Eddie begs the judge to let him keep raising Sam. The judge says no at first, but Eddie keeps proving that hope is louder than all the paperwork. Finally Shelly, watching her son flourish under Eds care, admits she cannot give him the steady life he needs. With a reluctant nod, she signs the papers that let Eddie remain the boy’s guardian, and a quiet cheer rises in the back of the courtroom.
🎭 Cast & Performances
Justin Timberlake as Eddie Palmer: Moving well beyond his pop-star image, Timberlake offers a quiet, mature turn as Eddie. He paints the character as a guilt-laden, watchful man who gradually learns to protect and nurture. Every glance and pause reveals slow, convincing growth rather than showy outbursts.
Ryder Allen as Sam: Ryder Allen delivers one of the most praised child performances in years, bringing genuine warmth and open vulnerability. His lively exchanges with Timberlake light up the screen, and his fearless yet tender portrayal of a gender-nonconforming kid feels truthful and rare.
June Squibb as Vivian: Squibb steps in as Eddies grandmother and offers the films moral center. Her warm, wise presence anchors the early scenes and steadies the story with gentle compassion and clear guidance.
Juno Temple as Shelly: Temple inhabits Eddies troubled mother with nuance, steering clear of easy clichés. Shelly emerges as both a victim of circumstance and a spark of chaos, caught between her longing to love her son and her painful inability to care for him.
Alisha Wainwright plays Maggie, a teacher for Sam and later Eddie’s love interest; she stays steady when other plot threads wobble. Although the script offers little backstory, Wainwright tips every moment with simple grace and quiet calm.
Fisher Stevens directs Palmer with a down-to-earth style that huddles the audience close to his characters. The plot unfolds at an unhurried pace, giving viewers time to breathe with each emotion as it grows. Cheryl Guerrieros script, once a prized entry on the Black List, anchors the film in honest, uncluttered dialogue.
Louisiana stands in for the storys small town, its sticky air and bright skies soaking every frame. Those visuals, muted and earthy, echo the films intimate tone. Tamar-kalis sparse score drifts underneath, lifting scenes without ever shouting.
At its core Palmer argues that everyone deserves a second chance, even someone tattooed by past mistakes. Eddie, freshly released from prison, faces suspicion at every corner but discovers purpose when he looks after Sam.
As Sam tests how he expresses boyhood, the film offers space instead of pressure to conform. By standing beside Sam, Eddie rewrites masculinity as something protective, nurturing, and open to emotion.
Alisha Wainwright plays Maggie, a teacher for Sam and later Eddie’s love interest; she stays steady when other plot threads wobble. Although the script offers little backstory, Wainwright tips every moment with simple grace and quiet calm.
Fisher Stevens directs Palmer with a down-to-earth style that huddles the audience close to his characters. The plot unfolds at an unhurried pace, giving viewers time to breathe with each emotion as it grows. Cheryl Guerriero’s script, once a prized entry on the Black List, anchors the film in honest, uncluttered dialogue.
Louisiana stands in for the story’s small town, its sticky air and bright skies soaking every frame. Those visuals, muted and earthy, echo the film’s intimate tone. Tamar-kali’s sparse score drifts underneath, lifting scenes without ever shouting.
At its core Palmer argues that everyone deserves a second chance, even someone tattooed by past mistakes. Eddie, freshly released from prison, faces suspicion at every corner but discovers purpose when he looks after Sam.
As Sam tests how he expresses boyhood, the film offers space instead of pressure to conform. By standing beside Sam, Eddie rewrites masculinity as something protective, nurturing, and open to emotion.
Family & Belonging: Eddie and Sam show clearly that family isnt always about DNA; its about the love you choose. Their bond deepens because they care for each other, not because they feel forced to.
Societal Judgment: The movie confronts the slurs, rules and old ideas that follow them everywhere-from parole talk to rigid gender boxes. By putting Eddie and Sam squarely in these fires, Palmer asks us to see and feel instead of judge.
Reception & Audience Response
When Palmer came out, viewers greeted it with warm applause for its honest emotion and solid acting, saying it left them quietly hopeful. Critics agreed the story followed familiar beats but felt the sincere performances gave each scene fresh air.
Many praised Justin Timberlake for stepping beyond his usual rhythm and delivering a calm, real turn. Ryder Allen also drew raves, with some calling his work the finest child performance in years.
At its premiere the film quickly climbed the charts to become one of Apple TV+ top debuts, carving out an early win for the platform.
Final Verdict
Palmer is a quiet, deeply felt film that favors honesty over showy effects. It tells a story about mending lives, showing care, and picking the hard path when the easy one tempts. Though it offers no fresh twist on the redemption trope, the movie drapes that familiar arc in grace, emotional smarts, and timely social notes.
Strengths:
Strong, natural performances
Moving portrayal of chosen family
Thoughtful handling of gender identity and acceptance
Weaknesses:
Predictable narrative arc
Underdeveloped subplots, especially the romance
Occasional pacing issues
Conclusion: Palmer is an intimate story about finding humanity in unexpected places. It reminds viewers that change is possible, love is transformative, and sometimes the person who least expects to be a hero proves to be exactly what someone else needs.
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