Palm Beach (2019 film)

2019 Australian film

Palm Beach

Theatrical film poster

Directed by| Rachel Ward
Screenplay by| Joanna Murray-Smith
Rachel Ward
Produced by| Deborah Balderstone
Bryan Brown
Starring| Frances Berry
Bryan Brown
Matilda Brown
Cinematography| Bonnie Elliott
Edited by| Nick Meyers

Production
companies

New Townfilms[1]
Soapbox Industries[1]

Distributed by| Universal Pictures[1]

Release dates

* 5 June 2019 (2019-06-05) (Sydney Film Festival)
* 8 August 2019 (2019-08-08)

Running time

| 100 minutes
Country| Australia
Language| English
Box office| $3.2 million[2]

Palm Beach is a 2019 Australian comedy drama film directed by Rachel Ward, and starring Sam Neill and Bryan Brown, the latter of whom also co-produced the film.[3]

## Plot

[edit]

A group of lifelong friends reunite to celebrate a special birthday at Palm Beach in Sydney, who provides a stunning backdrop to the drama that unfolds. The good times are rolling, with plenty of laughter, sumptuous meals, flowing wine and fantastic music, but tensions slowly rise and deep secrets are revealed.

## Cast

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* Frances Berry as Caitlin [4]
* Bryan Brown as Frank [4]
* Matilda Brown as Ella [4]
* Richard E. Grant as Billy [4]
* Aaron Jeffery as Doug [4]
* Jacqueline McKenzie as Bridget [4]
* Heather Mitchell as Eva [4]
* Sam Neill as Leo [4]
* Greta Scacchi as Charlotte [4]
* Charlie Vickers as Dan [4]
* Lisa Hensley as Lorna

## Response

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### Box office

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Palm Beach grossed $3.2 million internationally, $3 million of this in Australia.[5][2][6]

### Critical reception

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On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 46%, based on 28 reviews, with an average rating of 5.1/10.[7]

Sandra Hall of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote, "Rachel Ward's Palm Beach is a seniors' edition of The Big Chill, transplanted to Sydney's northern beaches and populated with a cast of Australian favourites [...] A less likeable group of actors could easily have been upstaged by the conspicuous perfection of the setting and the décor. This bunch hold their own, but a sharper script would have made them shine even brighter."[8] Louise Keller of Urban Cinefile called the film "a good-hearted get-together of old friends and family when resentments flair, flailing relationships are revealed and secrets demand to be heard. But it aches for some grit."[citation needed]

## Soundtrack

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Main article: Palm Beach: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

The original soundtrack was released on 19 July 2019, by Universal Music Australia and peaked at number 37 on the ARIA Charts.[9]

## References

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1. ^ a b c "Palm Beach (35mm)". Australian Classification Board. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
2. ^ a b "Palm Beach (2019) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
3. ^ "Palm Beach (2019) - the Screen Guide - Screen Australia".
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Palm Beach: Film Review". hollywoodreporter.com. 6 June 2019.
5. ^ "Palm Beach (2019) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
6. ^ "Palm Beach (2019)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
7. ^ "Palm Beach (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
8. ^ Hall, Sandra (29 July 2019). "Glamorous location, glittering cast and a secret". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
9. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.

## External links

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* Palm Beach at IMDb
* Palm Beach at AllMovie