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Plot:
Oliver Stone used such words as "liberating" and "fun" to talk about U Turn's relatively quick production schedule of 42 days. Stone's ideas of film fun, however, are something older gen...( read more 
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Recent Reviews
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MCT:August 18, 2008I once saw about the middle third, maybe even half, of this film by chance and was sucked in pretty quickly. I felt a queasy unease and distaste throughout what I saw as everyone backstabbed, doubled back, double crossed, screwed over, lied to and generally stomped all over every other soul in the movie--whether it was for any real motivation or just, seemingly, because. I felt very strange about the movie as a whole because of this--generally that distaste for the characters would leave me wishing the film away from my experiences, but in this case it just drew me in with morbid fascination--probably my first real experience of the storytelling elements that compose that much-loved genre known as film noir, albeit in a more modern incarnation.
Bobby Cooper (Sean Penn) is driving through the Arizona desert when the radiator hose on his 1964 (and a half) Mustang convertible blows, and he limps into the only garage he can find, Harlin's. Unsubtly, he rudely acquires the attention of the only man seemingly working there, a rather disgusting bloke by the name of Darrell (Billy Bob Thornton), who peers at him from piles of grease, a potbelly and coke-bottle lenses. Bobby bullies Darrell into fixing his car, then heads into the nearby town of Superior (to what?--real town though) to get something to drink. From there things just spiral further and further downward. He grudgingly buys a Dr Pepper (right on!) for a blind Native American (an unrecognizable, to me, Jon Voight), yelling cheerfully but bluntly at him from the storefront of the main (dirt!) drag of the town, then finds a store from which to buy something to drink, only to discover he chose the perfect time to do so, as the store is robbed. The bag of money he's, as yet inexplicably, carrying is taken from him, only to be lost in the simplest and most frustrating way imaginable, a sign of all of his luck to come. Some of it is blind chance (of the unpleasant kind) and the rest of it is selfish or psychotic machinations by the people around him, from Jake McKenna's (Nick Nolte) "love-hate" relationship with his wife Grace (Jennifer Lopez, before she really, REALLY became famous), to Darrell's vengeful car abuse, on into the suspicious Sherriff (Powers Boothe), and even the sycophantic and imbecilic attentions of Jenny (Clarie Danes), incurring the wrath of Toby N. Tucker (a young Joaquin Phoenix).
There's a sick black humour to all of it, made clear by ludicrous parallels--Bobby can't even get a bottled drink without having it unreasonably smashed, a piece of bad luck so miniscule in comparison to the rest that one can only see a humourous note to his wretchedly cursed state, by the wisened but profane and slang-filled ramblings of the blind Native American, on into the hilarious diner scene that begins his interactions with ol' "TNT" and his streak of jealousy. Despite this, I continued my old strain of appreciation for Bobby's plight, because while his first interaction is to be an asshole to Darrell, he shows repeatedly later that he is indeed a human being, even if one rather lacking in ethics, or with a skewed sense of them. That appreciation is only enhanced by the fact that the plotting feels absolutely logical; while it's usually quite difficult to get away with the kind of absurd coincidences that can happen in real life in a film (strangely rendered unbelievable in a false context, despite their reality), Oliver Stone manages to keep John Ridley's book (Stray Dogs) and screenplay together and believable. Everything that happens, even as we think, "My god, there's MORE?" comes off as completely reasonable within the framework of the story. I think this is helped by the fact that occasionally something goes right, or someone does something kind that reminds us of the reasonability of this total insanity--and the absolute tangle of endings and mishmashing of intent, consequence and relationship that it comes from is absolutely enthralling in its total absurdity--not Monty Python absurdity, but of the more droll variety, perhaps even closer to the philosophy of absurdism than the surrealist sense of humour.
Stone uses a style here that is compared to his earlier Natural Born Killers, and is vaguely reminiscent of Tony Scott's most recent stylistic choices. While someone comparing it to Stone's prior work might find this irritating, my freshest memories are more of Scott's last films, which makes this one seem comparably tame in its use of peculiar editing, sidelong cuts of only metaphorically relevant images, various colour filters adn similar tips and snips. As such it was thoroughly pleasant to me, enhancing the experience and highlighting the story itself, rather than distracting from it. Timelapse photography appears repeatedly, almost highlighting the ridiculousness we're witnessing for its irrelevance to the world around us, while closeups of manipulating fingers--a quarter dropped in a phone or jukebox, a key turned or removed, a lock bolted or opened--heighten a neurotic claustrophobia to keep us anchored to Bobby's increasing frustration and panic. Off-kilter low-angle and crooked shots also help to convey the bizarre, unfamiliar and insane nature of this small southwestern town, especially as Bobby sees it, making the viewer uncomfortable with a simple twist of the lens' placement. The sound folks also deserves no small credit for their clever mixing of animal sounds into innocuous places--not an uncommon technique, but here played to be simultaneously heard and mixed, a horse whinny with a scrape of the Mustang, a crow's caws with fatal laughter, and so on. One needn't forget that that beautiful music I kept hearing--well, my response was, afterward, "Oh, Ennio Morricone. Of course!"
Casting is excellent, as Penn always works in a role as a tortured soul, especially one of questionable morality, managing to keep a sharp tongue balanced by a sense of humanity--witness his backhanded manners in the diner--and a complete openness to vulnerable begging when his life is clearly threatened. Nick Nolte's role is the kind I feel he was bloody well born for. It's one thing for him to be an alcoholic cop (see: 48 Hrs.), but here, as a slightly deranged, money hungry, sickening creep, with grizzled beard and years of experience to bring about an emotional nihilism and self interest he seems inseparable. This isn't a slight against Mr. Nolte (I know nothing of him as a human being, after all!) but rather a statement about the kind of place his face and especially his voice fit. Thornton is the element that gave me the greatest unease in the film, especially the first time I saw it when I didn't know he had been treated poorly at first, having missed the opening sequences. Now I merely saw him randomly adding money to Bobby's financial charges for repair, playing with his car needlessly and generally being an absolute prick, seemingly without motivation. Now even knowing why he did it, I can't escape the slimy feeling he exudes from a character who manages to both be as incalculably stupid as he's accused of being and clever enough to subtly fight back against it, never fully edging completely onto either side, and definitely appearing to have no qualms about overreacting to slights.
It's not a pleasant movie, and the style will turn some off, but I've liked it quite a bit all three (uh, I think) times I've seen it now--I find that Stone never fails to capture and hold my interest, at least insofar as the films I've seen from his works. -
MCT:July 1, 2008
Great actingbut didn't keep my attention as much! Dialogue was kinda weak! Some funy parts and J-Lo looks hella hood!
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MCT:June 29, 2008
solid performances...mildly palatable....thanks to the attractiveness of the leads...decent script..simply tends to drag in parts...
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MCT:June 26, 2008I truly hated this shit. Penn CAN'T save any movie with a bad plot like this one as everyone think he does.
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MCT:April 23, 2008
When Bobby's car blows its radiator hose, he wheels it into Superior, Ariz., a mining village so cruddy and depressing it's like Tijuana as a ghost town. The temperature is about a zillion degrees (sweat could be the local industry), and the sun isn't the only thing that's overheating. The moment Bobby arrives, bad voodoo seems to emanate from everywhere. It starts with the local mechanic, played -- hilariously -- by Billy Bob Thornton as a hostile pigpen slob (dirt is practically etched into his skin). This walking grease pit seems to take great delight in inconveniencing Bobby, and, in fact, the slyly sinister joke of the movie is that everything that happens to poor Bobby is, in essence, a form of karma: cosmic payback for his being a hustler and a lout. He's a man with no loyalty -- he'll say anything to get what he wants -- and now the world is refusing to show loyalty to him.
Wandering the streets, Bobby is assailed by such Twilight Zone locals as a blind but all-seeing Native American derelict (Jon Voight) and a dimply, down-home nymphet (Claire Danes) who keeps showing up to bat her eyelashes at him, tailed by her violent hulk of a boyfriend (Joaquin Phoenix, in a magnetic bit of sociopathic shtick). Is there a femme fatale? Do you even have to ask? Bobby catches the eye of Grace (Jennifer Lopez), a sultry beauty so cool and sleek she stands out from Superior like a glass of Dom Perignon atop a dunghill. He also meets Jake (Nick Nolte), her raging psycho of a husband. It's soon unclear who wants to pay who to do away with whom. Nolte, looking like Tom Waits' horror-movie cousin, leers and rasps and generally has a wild time playing the scummiest scumbag of his career. By Owen Gleiberman -
MCT:April 17, 2008
Again Oliver Stone destroys a movie who had everything to be amazing into an arrogant, prepotent work.
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MCT:December 18, 2007
A pretty dark movie done in a very unique, if anything, Oliver Stone-ish way. It leaves you a little unsatisfied, but it's still interesting enough to earn my praise.
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MCT:December 4, 2007
U-Turn really lacks the grit and belief in the work that Stone's previous projects have had. The story is very one dimensional and the characters are just there and dont seem to have much else than whats on view. A decent cast isnt pushed and the performances show this. Well shot but ultimatly a waste.
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MCT:November 9, 2007I loved this movie. It's simply brilliant.Bobby(Sean Penn) is already in deep shit and his car breaks down in the biggest hell-hole of a town.Nothing goes good for Bobby, one thing after the next.Then when it seems like things are looking up for him, it just gets even worse.Great performance from Sean Penn and Jennifer Lopez is eye candy through out the whole flick. LOVED IT !
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MCT:August 24, 2007
Olver Stone does comedy... with disturbing results... definity has a few good laughs... but the humer is just too dark and disturbing to be called a true comedy, and too light to be called a true thriller... truely a nightmare, but an enjoyable nightmare... just thank providence that you're not in their shoes
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MCT:August 18, 2007
Oliver Stone does incredibly effective work here, but that might not always be a good thing, considering the source material. Sean Penn (who is really fantastic, btw) is stuck in a middle-of-nowhere Arizona town that's like a nightmarish fun house. But at points i was as frustrated as Sean, but I stuck with the movie anyways. Sean Penn's scenes with Claire Danes are by far the funniest. Juaquin Pheonix and Bily Bob Thorton's chacters are easily the most annoying. I had mixed feelings about Jennifer Lopez (who looks really great in this, for the record) at first, but after a certain twist, she comes into her own and we realize the role fits her like a glove. Speaking of twists, there are so many that the plot is truly unpredictable. You won't know what's going to happen next. The final third of the film abadons all the annoying stuff before, and suddenly becomes wickedly entertaining. This is a wild, nasty ride.
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MCT:August 1, 2007Why did J Lo did another movie after Selena??? Nolte is the man and Penn wow rising to b the best of his class
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MCT:July 27, 2007
It was good movie. I thought the action took some time to happen. I was glad it wasn't predictable.
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MCT:July 23, 2007
I watched this in film 'en francais', because I downloaded the wrong language, luckily French is Canada's 2nd language.
Surprisingly enough, it made me pay more attention to the script and action scenes.
I'm not always pleased with Oliver Stone, but this film was great. Penn stands out as a master of his art, while Voight takes another unlikely but decent role.
More funny than depressing for a tragedy since the plot drifted into ballsy characters every 5 minutes. -
MCT:July 18, 2007
Oliver Stone gives his films an energy that can really push them through their weak spots, unfortunately, that energy can't quite save the mess that is U-Turn. Sean Penn is as great as ever though.
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MCT:July 16, 2007
Another hell-in-Arizona type of movie. The plot will create a sensation of pity, anger, and will definitely tickle a bit.
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MCT:July 16, 2007
Ollie goes indie. And succeeds! Wonderful cast. Quirky, clever, and a lot of fun. Sean Penn is solid. Jennifer Lopez sizzles. Jon Voight, Billy Bob Thornton, and Nick Nolte are great characters. Check this one out!
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MCT:July 10, 2007
Probably the best Oliver Stone film ever with extreamly hilarious characters around every corner! Seasn Penn is amazing such as the rest of the cast! Thornton, Voight, Phoenix, Boothe, Danes, Nolte and Lopez gives some of their best and most enjoyable performances ever! A must see!
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I'm pretty sure that the song from AaRON called "Lili (U-Turn)" is from this movie because it was shone not only in the US but in France as well. France is where AaRON is, so yeah....
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MCT:June 26, 2007
This is another MUST SEE MOVIE!! I just recently saw this one for the first time and was completely blown away! Jennifer Lopez has never looked better!
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MCT:June 21, 2007
The best film by Oliver Stone IMHO! For all fans of Roadmovies! Give it a look! You won't be disappointed!
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MCT:June 20, 2007
One of the BEST movies I've seen to date!!! A MUST see Movie that will blow your mind. CLAIRA DANES GETS BITCH SLAPPED! With J-Lo having some frontal nudity.
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MCT:June 8, 2007
Wow- Great - unbelievable - professional ? astonishing - admirable
I can not remember anything that made me mad like this.
There's no escape, it makes you ehhhh.
watched it over and over and over again, and the cashiers twinkle is the most repeated scene for me and anyone who i know! -
MCT:May 23, 2007
I like Oliver Stone so I gave this film a shot. Not bad even though I had a hard time swallowing Jenny from the Bloc as a Native. I loved the darkness of the film and the actors for the most part. Then Stone brought out Jon Voight in "red face" to play the Indian towards the end of the film. WTF?! Despite Voight and J.Lo - I like this dark film with the equally satisfying ending. Still this film was offensive. C'mon western european actors playing Native Americans?!
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