ASLEEP IN MY PALM -- Wide Awake

Review by Joseph Fayed

Life off the grid is often depicted as embracing a loner mentality. This is followed by a protagonist living a mostly aimless existence. Asleep in My Palm is a faster-paced tale that instead focuses on how that off-the-grid lifestyle can easily fall apart but leaves some unanswered questions behind. 

The film follows Tom (Tim Blake Nelson) and his daughter Beth Ann, who live in a storage unit in rural Ohio. For as long as either of them can remember, nowhere they have lived has ever been called home. But as they settle in their new "home," the two unexpectedly find themselves going on different journeys for the first time. Tom seems to have his past catching up on him, and Beth Ann is drawn into a world where she is a complete outsider. 

Father and daughter duos rely on strong chemistry to convey any points. This is especially important when our duo is presented as having an "us versus the world" mindset. Tom and Beth Ann are well acted because you are convinced they have no one to rely on but each other. Tim Blake Nelson's approach to his character is more blunt, while Chloë Kerwin is more timid in her performance. Typical age dynamics are in play here, and the film's climax quickly makes you understand why that is. 

The film becomes far more intriguing when they begin their separate storylines. With Tom, it becomes quite obvious that he seeks self-preservation, which everyone except his sheltered daughter seems to understand. What becomes of Tom is predictable, but the massive shift in intensity turns everything up a notch for the remainder of his screen time. Beth Ann's journey is more of an exploration of herself, but with some fulfilling character development, we don't see it under Tom's wing. The ending does feel a tad bit rushed and has a conclusion that is very cliche. It doesn't undermine what Beth Ann has experienced, but it does feel like they copied the ending of countless other films to emulate how she picks herself up. 

In Asleep In My Palm, Tim Blake Nelson does a good job navigating his leading role, and hopefully, that will convince Hollywood to elevate him to first billed on the call sheet. I was unfamiliar with Chloë Kerwin before this film and thought she was at least three other actresses before the credits rolled, but she impressed me the most. Her ability to emote and feign innocence gave an extra layer to unravel. Director Henry Nelson's debut starring his dad gives him a promising start. To top it all off, the Coen Brothers were given "special thanks" at the end, which is probably how they could budget cinematography that is of higher quality than that of most indies. It sounds like Henry used his nepo connections for good. 

Asleep in My Palm is now in theaters and hits VOD on March 19.​

Rating: 3.5/5