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Movies / On DVD / U-Turn
U-Turn

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U-Turn (1997)

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55 %
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Reviews Counted:44

Fresh:24

Rotten:20

Average Rating:5.9/10

Runtime: 2 hrs 5 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: A noirish departure for issue-oriented director Oliver Stone, U-TURN stars Sean Penn as Bobby, a gambler on the run who has the misfortune to have his radiator hose blow in a godforsaken Arizona... A noirish departure for issue-oriented director Oliver Stone, U-TURN stars Sean Penn as Bobby, a gambler on the run who has the misfortune to have his radiator hose blow in a godforsaken Arizona hole-in-the-wall. He quickly meets the stunning Grace McKenna (Jennifer Lopez), and they go to her place to become better acquainted. When her husband, real estate king Jake (Nick Nolte), catches the two together in the bedroom, they fight, but at a later meeting, he proposes that Bobby kill his wife for a reasonable sum. At first the gambler turns him down, but when all his money is torn to shreds in a freak accident, he realizes that he won't be able to get his car fixed unless he goes along. Grace's considerable charm, combined with her account of the mistreatment she's suffered at her husband's hands, dissuades Bobby from the job. But she now offers him the same deal to kill Jake. To add to his problems, Bobby is being hawked by the suspicious sheriff (Powers Boothe) and has been targeted by local badass Toby (Joaquin Phoenix), who thinks Bobby is after his girlfriend, Jenny (Clare Danes). Penn turns in a fine performance in this overripe noir, and the photograpy is excellent. The film is based on the excellent short novel STRAY DOGS by John Ridley, who also served as one of the film's producers. [More]

Starring: Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Lopez, Billy Bob Thornton

Starring: Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Lopez, Billy Bob Thornton, Powers Boothe, Claire Danes, Joaquin Phoenix, Jon Voight, Abraham Benrubi, Julie Hagerty, Bo Hopkins, Valeri Nikolayev, Laurie Metcalf, Liv Tyler

Director: Oliver Stone

Director: Oliver Stone
Producer: Dan Halsted, John Ridley
Story: John Ridley
Screenwriter: John Ridley
Composer: Ennio Morricone

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Mar 31, 1998

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Reviews for U-Turn

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1 - 20 (sorted by comments)
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Remember when you looked forward to seeing a new Oliver Stone film?

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
01/01/00
E! Online
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
01/01/00
Empire Magazine
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
03/24/02
Boston Phoenix
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
08/12/06
Washington Post

It's a feast for the senses, as long as you have a strong stomach.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
08/04/09
Blake French
Blake French
Filmcritic.com

If you're looking for something light and fun, skip this one. Otherwise, it's worth taking in this exploration of the underbelly of American life.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
01/01/00
Brian Webster
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide

Stone's constant hammering at the audience with style over substance is bound to alienate most moviegoers.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
01/01/00
Chris Hicks
Chris Hicks
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

What makes this film work, however, isn't really its well-oiled familiar movie mechanisms (plot, character, motivation): it's plain enough that Stone knows how to make a picture.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia City Paper | comment Comment
01/01/00
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
Philadelphia City Paper

A bad trip flick.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
03/08/04
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Although many of the performances -- particularly from Nolte, Penn and Thornton -- are enjoyable, the movie plunges so deeply into black comedic hell, all is lost.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Desson Thomson
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Viewers who don't need depth and can ignore technique overkill along with social critique nonsense, should enjoy the bumpy ride offered by 'U Turn.'

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
02/11/07
Donald J. Levit
Donald J. Levit
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
02/10/04
Dragan Antulov
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews

U-Turn is fast-paced throughout, with unexpected bursts of twisted humor among the bloody closeups of beatings, shootings and mutilation.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
06/05/02
Ed Scheid
Ed Scheid
Boxoffice Magazine
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out

A fun movie.

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
01/01/00
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve

All great artists have misguided moments.

Full Review Source: UK Critic | comment Comment
01/01/00
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
UK Critic

Stone's trademark techniques -- fast cuts, multiple images, mixed film stocks, odd film speeds, weird angles -- overtake the film.

Full Review Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jack Garner
Jack Garner
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

The film takes so many detours that at least one or two of them are bound to surprise even the most jaded movie-goer.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
01/01/00
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

a mostly wasted effort in exploiting a well-tread genre

Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk | comment Comment
02/27/01
James Kendrick
James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk

This is Stone in an apolitcal, even -- dare we say it -- lighthearted mood. But this time out his bag of tricks is filled with recycled items: grainy film stock, black-and-white inserts, scolding crows and a non-stop parade of white trashies..."

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
James Sanford
James Sanford
rec.arts.movies.reviews
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by comments)
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Latest News for U-Turn

August 09, 2006: Critical Consensus: A Brave New "World," A "Step" Down, And No Screenings for "Pulse" and "Zoom"
This week at the movies, we've got Oliver Stone paying tribute to the heroes of 9/11 ("World Trade Center," starring Nicolas Cage); two youngsters trying to start a... More...

April 28, 2005: Oliver Stone to Introduce a New "Night Watchman"
The Hollywood Reporter brings news of filmmaker Oliver Stone's next project, which is the long-discussed, frequently delayed "Night Watchman." Based on an earlier... More...

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