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.
Contents
Plot
A reunion party is being held at Palm Beach in Sydney by a group of lifelong friends.
Cast
Frances Berry as Caitlin
Bryan Brown as Frank
Matilda Brown as Ella
Richard E. Grant as Billy
Aaron Jeffery as Doug
Jacqueline McKenzie as Bridget
Heather Mitchell as Eva
Sam Neill as Leo
Greta Scacchi as Charlotte
Charlie Vickers as Dan
Lisa Hensley as Lorna
Claire van der Boom as Holly
Renee Lim as Dr. Hall
Felix Williamson as Taxi Driver
Response
Box office
Palm Beach grossed $3.2 million internationally, $3 million of this in Australia.
Critical reception
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 48% based on 29 reviews, with an average rating of 5.1/10.
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." 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."
Soundtrack
The original soundtrack was released on 19 July 2019, by Universal Music Australia and peaked at number 37 on the ARIA Charts.