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Movies / On DVD / U-Turn
U-Turn

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U-Turn (1997)

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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 fresh rating)
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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

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

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

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

A fun movie.

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

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

U-Turn becomes a showcase for the filmmaker's terrific arsenal of visual mannerisms and free-association imagery.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
01/01/00
Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Stone has stretched this rubber band past the point where it should snap into parody, but it still holds the shape of a rubber band.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jeff Millar
Jeff Millar
Houston Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Stone and screenwriter John Ridley have fun spinning the ultimate hard-luck story, with a cast that seems to relish taking things well over the top.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
01/01/00
Kevin Lally
Kevin Lally
Film Journal International

With brilliant photography and inventive camerawork, Stone gives a really interesting feel to the story.

Full Review Source: Montreal Film Journal | comment Comment
09/10/02
Kevin N. Laforest
Kevin N. Laforest
Montreal Film Journal

No review available.

comment Comment
02/05/03
Mark Palermo
Mark Palermo
Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

ts flaws are in large part ones we could overlook in a new filmmaker and still say he is promising. From a now major filmmaker like Oliver Stone, it probably must be considered just a minor effort and perhaps a false step.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Mark R. Leeper
Mark R. Leeper
rec.arts.movies.reviews

Bizarre, somewhat baffling, but nonetheless intriguing and warped entertainment for anyone brave enough to tackle it.

Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com

A sometimes uproarious minor work.

comment Comment
01/01/00
Mike Clark
Mike Clark
USA Today
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Observar os 'truques' de Oliver Stone é, por si só, diversão mais do que suficiente.

Full Review Source: Cinema em Cena | comment Comment
05/31/02
Pablo Villaca
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena

This long, strange trip is fun but aimless.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
07/25/07
Rob Gonsalves
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

One of Stone's best narrative, and thought-provoking, efforts to date.

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
04/09/05
Robin Clifford
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews

This is also the most radical departure Stone has ever made in terms of basic sensibilities.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Russell Smith
Russell Smith
Austin Chronicle

If you want to see U TURN precisely for Stone's individual stamp on the work, you probably won’t be disappointed

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Shane Burridge
Shane Burridge
rec.arts.movies.reviews
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating)
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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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