Skip to main content
Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Mario riding Yoshi through space with Luigi and Peach flying along beside him
Animated Movies The Super Mario Galaxy Movie review: "Never quite reaches Galaxy's gravity-defying game heights"
Ben the chimp making friends in the trailer for Primate
Streaming Services 6 best new movies and shows to watch this weekend on Netflix, Prime, Disney Plus, and more (March 27–29)
Camila Morrone as Rachel in Something Very Bad is Going to Happen
Horror Shows Duffer Brothers' new Netflix horror show called "captivating" and "a dread-filled nightmare" in first reviews
Uma Thurman's Devora Kasimer sitting at a make up table looking at a group of bloody ballerinas in her mirror
Streaming Services 3 new to Prime Video movies you need to watch this weekend (March 27–March 29)
Cillian Murphy as Tommy in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.
Movies The 25 best movies on Netflix to watch right now
Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Project Hail Mary review: "Large scale sci-fi with tons of heart"
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies Scream 7 review: "Never as sharp as the series' best, but still has a few neat tricks up its billowing sleeve"
Javier Bardem as Max Cady in Cape Fear
Thriller Shows First teaser for Apple TV's Cape Fear is a tension-filled fever dream
The Serpent's Skin
Horror Movies The Serpent's Skin is the neon-soaked, blood-splattered queer love story I've been waiting for
Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone in The Godfather.
Streaming Services The 20 best movies on Paramount Plus to watch right now
Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles in Sonic 3
Amazon Prime Video The 25 best movies on Prime Video to watch right now
Ryan Gosling as Court Gentry in The Gray Man.
Thriller Movies The 25 best Netflix thrillers to watch right now
Tom Hanks as Commander Ernie Krause during one of the best Apple TV movies, Greyhound.
Apple TV Plus The 10 best movies on Apple TV to stream right now
Some of the cast of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2. Anna Sawai, Takehiro Hira, Ren Watabe, and Kiersey Clemons
Streaming Services 6 new movies and shows to watch this weekend on Netflix, Prime, Disney Plus, and more (February 27 - March 1)
Return to Silent Hill protagonist James Sunderland
Horror Movies Return to Silent Hill review: "Neither an impressive adaptation nor coherent enough to act as a standalone film"
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies
  3. Action Movies

Palo Alto review

Coppola adapts Franco's childhood...

Reviews
By James Mottram published 13 October 2014

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

The latest Coppola to grab a camera – Francis Ford’s granddaughter, Gia – makes a quietly assured debut with this tale of disaffected youth, adapted from a book of short stories by James Franco. The star also appears as a creepy soccer coach, object of desire for April (Emma Roberts).

Shying from the more controversial yarns in Franco’s book, this is a dreamy take on teen life, authentic in its everyday feel. Yet it plays like a series of disparate shorts and the absence of parents rings false. But with a distinct visual sensibility, Gia proves she’s one more Coppola to watch.

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
Amazon Prime Video Streaming Services
James Mottram
James Mottram
Social Links Navigation
Freelance writer

James Mottram is a freelance film journalist, author of books that dive deep into films like Die Hard and Tenet, and a regular guest on the Total Film podcast. You'll find his writings on GamesRadar+ and Total Film, and in newspapers and magazines from across the world like The Times, The Independent, The i, Metro, The National, Marie Claire, and MindFood.

Read more
Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Kelson in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Horror Movies 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
 
 
Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights
Drama Movies Emerald Fennell's controversial Wuthering Heights works because it's like a half-remembered dream
 
 
Keanu Reeves as FBI Agent Johnny Utah and Patrick Swayze as Bodhi "Bodhisattva" in the movie Point Break.
Hulu The best movies on Hulu to watch right now
 
 
Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles in Sonic 3
Amazon Prime Video The 25 best movies on Prime Video to watch right now
 
 
Karl Urban as Captain Connor in The Bluff
Action Movies The Boys star's new swashbuckling actioner compared to Pirates of the Caribbean in mixed-positive first reviews
 
 
Mario riding Yoshi through space with Luigi and Peach flying along beside him
Animated Movies The Super Mario Galaxy Movie review: "Never quite reaches Galaxy's gravity-defying game heights"
 
 
Latest in Action Movies
Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne during The Batman
DC Movies Robert Pattinson says The Batman 2 script is "so, so good" as he confirms filming starts in April
 
 
Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El in Supergirl
DC Movies Milly Alcock says she hasn't spoken to previous Supergirl actors about playing Kara Zor-El
 
 
Milly Alcock as Supergirl
DC Movies Milly Alcock "bullied" herself into accepting the role of Supergirl after swearing off franchises
 
 
Tom Holland and Zendaya in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Marvel Movies Tom Holland spoiled the Avengers movies for Zendaya: "I was like... 'Why did you tell me that?!'"
 
 
Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El in Supergirl
DC Movies Kara Zor-El goes full John Wick in new Supergirl trailer all about her mission to save Krypto the adorable pup
 
 
Milly Alcock as Supergirl
DC Movies Supergirl director says the movie will "thoroughly investigate" Krypton and Kara's home Argo City
 
 
Latest in Reviews
Mario riding Yoshi through space with Luigi and Peach flying along beside him
Animated Movies The Super Mario Galaxy Movie review: "Never quite reaches Galaxy's gravity-defying game heights"
 
 
MSI Cyborg gaming laptop on a wooden desk with blue backlighting
Laptops Bargain hunters will know the MSI Cyborg well but are its sacrifices worth it?
 
 
Key art for Life is Strange: Reunion showing Max and Chloe standing together looking serious as Max reaches out her hand to use her time powers - the background is Caledon University in fall, overlaid with a polaroid photograph of it in flames
Adventure Games Life is Strange: Reunion review: "Confused storytelling dilutes the joy of Chloe and rewind's return"
 
 
Asus ROG Strix Morph 96 Wireless
Gaming Keyboards The Asus ROG Strix Morph 96 wants to be fully disassembled, but with the way it runs right out the box I'm not sure you'll need to
 
 
Key art for Darwin's Paradox showing blue octopus Darwin leaping out of the ocean, pursued by flying saucers and an angry seagull
Platforming Games Darwin's Paradox review: "This octopus adventure feels gleefully XBLA-core, which is both a strength and a weakness"
 
 
Fox in the Forest box on a wooden table
Tabletop Gaming Fox in the Forest review
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. World of Warcraft
    1
    WoW lead asks how players would feel about playing on controller, fans fear it'll "get worse" on PC
  2. 2
    18-year-old Super Mario Galaxy mystery is finally settled in the movie
  3. 3
    After gracing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 with his voice, Ben Starr is ready for Love and Deepspace
  4. 4
    No, this thumb-sized NES controller isn't an April Fools gag, and I'm staggered by how accurate it feels
  5. 5
    From Arena to Skyrim, Elden Ring streamer beats Bethesda's entire RPG series "first try" with 0 damage

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...