10 Certified Fresh 2014 Movies That Nobody Saw

Few films capture the tedium, self-obsession and insecurity of contemporary teenage life as accurately as Palo Alto. Adapted from a semi-autobiographical book by James Franco - who also stars - written for the screen and directed by a Coppola, and starring Val Kilmer's son and Julia Roberts's niece, Palo Alto runs the risk of being a film made by Hollywood insiders for Hollywood insiders.

That's not the case, fortunately - Gia Coppola's film instead plays like a more competent, more believable version of Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring: a glance at California teens searching for meaning in bad behaviour. Inspired by Franco's collection of short stories, the disconnectedness adds to the detached impression of life at that age.

Gia quite obviously has been taking inspiration from auntie Sofia - all the hallmarks are there, from the bright, on-the-fly cinematography to the natural performances and dreamy pop soundtrack. Where Gia diverges is in her refusal to glamorise the awkward pain of life as a young person, no matter how affluent or attractive.