‘Palmer’ Review: Justin Timberlake’s Timely New Drama Will Leave You In Tears

The first thing you should know about the new Apple TV+ film Palmer is that it would be rather advantageous to have a box of tissues nearby before pressing play. The second thing you should know is that this is some of the best acting we’ve seen yet from Justin Timberlake.

Fresh off his inauguration performance of “Better Days” with Ant Clemons, filmed at the Stax Museum in his hometown of Memphis, TN, it doesn’t take long into this film to realize why the multi-hyphenate was perfect for this role. Eddie Palmer is a former high school football star who has just been released from a 12-year stint in prison; the reason for his stay and the details around it are revealed throughout the film. Not only is Palmer tasked with reacclimating to life in his small Louisiana town — moving in with his grandmother played by June Squibb (minus her humorous Hubie Halloween t-shirts though), trying to land a job, doing his best to reconnect with old friends, and most importantly, shaking the stigma that follows a previously incarcerated man — but he also finds himself responsible for a unique young child, Sam, played here with a neverending amount of adorableness and depth by Ryder Allen. Sam is not only a boy who loves princesses, but one that is wonderfully secure in who they are, never really giving a damn to what anyone else in the world thinks about their passion. Sam also remains remarkably resilient and optimistic even though their drug addict mother, played with incredible, chilling conviction by Juno Temple, simply picks up and leaves town for an extended period of time.

Directed by Fisher Stevens with a script by Cheryl Guerriero, Palmer is not only one of the most intriguing film titles available on the Apple TV+ platform so far, but also a timely film that feels as though it accurately depicts current life in the South. It’s not necessarily judging or condemning these people and their lives: it’s merely portraying the common mindset and way of life in that corner of the country. However, its real strength is in providing hope that a duo like Palmer and Sam might change a mind or two along the way. Timberlake and Allen are excellent together. It’s significant that a man such as Palmer doesn’t immediately shun Sam, which is largely due to the fact that he doesn’t seem to be drowning in the toxic masculinity so many of his peers are suffering from. This allows Timberlake to show off his range from subtle to explosive to sensitive in a way no other role has afforded him yet — and trust me, I would know. I’ve been watching every move of his career for over two decades now.

While an hour and 51 minutes is just about 20 minutes past where a film should land, I still found myself completely invested in every scene of this film. With help from Alisha Wainwright’s performance as Sam’s teacher Maggie, Palmer builds to an incredibly emotional third act. It’s one that doesn’t necessarily end in a surprising way, but the journey there sure is an ultimately satisfying roller coaster. For a movie this emotional, it sure was an enjoyable experience watching these characters roll with the many, many punches. Again, much of this is due to the impressive performance from Timberlake, as well as the complete heart that Allen brings to the role. Ultimately, this is a story of identity and acceptance: of others, of who you are, your life circumstances, your mistakes, and the power you have over your future. Open up your heart to this movie; the way it will demolish and then stitch it back up again is worth it.

Palmer is available on Apple TV+ this Friday, January 29.

Stream Palmer on Apple TV+