U Turn

Rating:
Summary: Stone lets his hair down with hilarious results
Review: After several more serious-minded "message" films like "JFK" and "Natural Born Killers," the movie "U-Turn" found Oliver Stone just having his own twisted fun with the film-noir genre. And the result is a hilarious, relentless, and quite riveting thriller. Yes it is a black comedy. But it's also an epic meditation on being trapped. Superior, Arizona is a metaphor for all of life's traps, both those that are thrust upon us and those that we step into deliberately. Bobby Cooper (Sean Penn) is a scumbag, but one we can completely identify with, at least I did. For me, the most disturbing scene was where Toby N. Tucker (brilliantly played by Joaquin Phoenix) tears up Cooper's bus ticket. The reason it was disturbing is because I was completely caught up in the characters. See "U-Turn" for its sharp, incisive script by John Ridley, wonderful performances and Stone's cinematic bravura.

Rating:
Summary: I didn't find this movie great, but worth watching
Review: This movie is filled with people you will recognize. Sean Penns' character is the basis of the movie. It is basically just the story of a day that will have you asking "what could go wrong next" and "how bad can this guys day get". I definitely found the movie worth watching. Some wierd camera camera angles and shots let you know the director is "Oliver Stone". Joaquin Phoenix plays a hilarious character and every scene with him is great. Billy Bob Thorton plays a good role as a the crazy mechanic, who you definitely would not want working on your car. If you like Oliver Stone or movies like "Very Bad Things" you should enjoy this one.

Rating:
Summary: The bleakest of noirs, one of Oliver Stone's finest moments!
Review: I'm a huge fan of Oliver Stone, and I've always thought this shamefully underated gem is one his best films. Each character is selfish & has an evil side that's unleashed at some point in the film. Like a film noir of the '40s, the main character (Sean Penn) is a doomed man on the run who's fate is sealed by a beautiful femme fatale (Jennifer Lopez). The casting in this was flawless, and I've never seen a more unlikable redneck than Billy Bob Thorton's character! As with most of Stone's movies, this is challenging to watch at times, but in a good way. From the opening scene the viewer is drawn into a bleak world where everyone has an agenda (except perhaps Jon Voight's character!) and double-crosses are to be expected. The music adds to the film's bleak atmosphere and the final scene is unforgettable. There's not one dull moment although don't expect to feel cheerful after watching this. I also recommend the following Oliver Stone films: "Platoon", "Born on the Fourth of July", "The Doors", "Nixon", "JFK", and "Natural Born Killers".

Rating:
Summary: I'm Lovin' It
Review: This an extremely hated movie.Not only does it have an average customer review of a mere 3 1/2 stars on Amazon but it appeared in a book called "I Hated,Hated,Hated This Movie" by Roger Ebert.I love the directing, (which is rare cause I don't like
Oliver Stone) I love the screenplay by John Ridley(so much that I later read the book "Stray Dogs" by Ridley). Sean Penn in a funny and great performance plays Bobby Cooper. Bobby is a down-and-out gambler with two of his fingers missing from his hand.
While driving his beloved 1964 1/2 Mustang Convertible to get to Las Vegas to pay off a debt,his radiator hose busts causing him to wander into the town of Superior,Arizona. He meets Darrel
(Billy Bob Thornton at his greasy best), a grease covered mechanic who Bobby later calls (among other things) "dumber than a sack of hammers". After leaving his car to the mechanic he meets the lovely and exotic Grace. A fiery vixen married to a much older man (Nick Nolte), who wants him dead. Turns out Nolte's character Jake wants Grace dead as well. This film in which most of the characters aren't developed except the main characters is the kind of movie I like.The cinematography's weird.The music which any other time would be happy sounds creepy and the climax of the film is awesome. One of Sean Penns best films, A+.

Rating:
Summary: STAND UP OR I'LL BEAT YOU WHERE YOU SIT!
Review: Oliver Stone has crafted an amazing, dark, atmospheric, visual head trip. Where to begin? You have GREAT music, performances by Billy Bob, Sean Penn, Joaquin Phoenix (in one of his FEW good roles), and Claire Danes. Superb choices in location as well - Arizona looks dry and dangerous here. It kind of drones on in some spots, but this is definitely one that measures up well with repeated viewings.

Rating:
Summary: TRASHY FUN
Review: This movie although violent and foul is great.Oliver Stone has
been making nothing but political movies his whole damn carrer has a director.JFK,Born On The Fourth Of July,Platoon,Wall Street,Salvador,The Doors,e.tc and they are all really good I own most of them,He's one two academy awards for best director
(Born On The Fourth Of July and Platoon)and has been nominated
who know's how many,and has won a award for best screenplay(
Midnight Express)He's earned his right to make this film.Which I
think blows Naturall Born Killers away.What is their not to like
about this movie you've got Sean Penn at his sleaziest and his
best,youve got Jennifer Lopez lookin hot,Youve got a gritty,
and repulsive Nick Nolte,plus you've got so many whacky charaters played by Powers Boothe,Jon Voight,a also very sexy
Claire Danes,Jauqien Phoenix,and my favorite of all next to Penn
Billy Bob Thorton at his nastiest most white trash role to date.
And you've got a real twisty,dirty look to the movie.It's just
fun to watch some might be repulsed by it's vulgarity be warned
it's adult fun this movies got it all Heavy sex,Strong Violence,
Pervasive langeuge,and not a single rightious character.The movie is great but aqquirred taste none-the-less if you like
movies where the violence is over done in an almost ridicuolos
fashion in movies such as Natural Born Killers or Kalifornia
but don't let this review fool you this is one of the uglier
movies probably ever made.

Rating:
Summary: Guilty, gritty pleasure
Review: Sunday, April 18, 2004 / 4 of 5 / Guilty, gritty pleasure. Admittedly, U-Turn is a guilty, gritty pleasure. It's one of those movies that has a compelling but amoral anti-hero protagonist, much like another in this genre, `Romeo is Bleeding'. Like that film, we witness the disintegration, physical and mental of the main character whose vices have finally caught up with him with a vengeance. Oliver Stone's splice and hack techniques work wonderfully and the amazingly strong cast seems to be having a ball with the seedy story. Sean Penn is Bobby on his way to pay off gambling debts after having his two fingers cut off by Russian gangsters. His 64 Mustang blows a radiator hose in the podunk town of Superior, AZ. While there he gets rolled, loses his cash, endures further physical abuse and is tempted to kill numerous people, from J-Lo, to Billy Bob Thornton, to Nick Nolte, to Joaquin Phoenix. The interactions are comical in their depravity, this film really straddles genres, flowing from noir to black comedy and back. No one trusts anyone and incredibly you feel sorry for Bobby as the film reaches its crescendo. The more I think of it, the more it conceptually mirrors Romeo is Bleeding with Penn and Oldman's weak, amoral central characters at the mercy of the strong females in J-Lo and Lena Olin. I think it's good for a viewing ever so often, more would be too exhausting and make one feel a bit too dirty. Recommended.