Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
After 12 years in prison, former high school football star Eddie Palmer returns home to put his life back together—and forms an unlikely bond with Sam, an outcast boy from a troubled home. But Eddie's past threatens to ruin his new life and family.
Palmer is a well-worn redemption drama elevated significantly by Justin Timberlake's surprisingly grounded performance and the chemistry between him and the young Ryder Allen, who is exceptional as the gender-nonconforming Sam. The plot follows familiar ex-con-finds-purpose beats without much deviation, and the small-town setting and troubled-parent subplot are well-trodden territory, keeping Novelty low. Cinematography is competent but unremarkable for the genre. The ending resolves satisfyingly if predictably, providing emotional closure without real surprise. The film's strength lies squarely in its performances, particularly Allen's fearless, naturalistic work.