U Turn

Based on a book by John Ridley, U Turn follows Sean Penn’s Bobby Cooper as he’s forced to spend time in a small, remote town after his car breaks down – with the narrative detailing Bobby’s encounters with the community’s various denizens, especially Nick Nolte’s Jake and Jennifer Lopez’s Grace. Filmmaker Oliver Stone has infused U Turn with exactly the sort of over-the-top, less-than-subtle vibe one might’ve anticipated, and it’s clear, certainly, that the director, working from Ridley’s script, isn’t looking to deliver a subtle and low-key piece of work here. Penn’s typically stirring efforts as the movie’s somewhat unlikable protagonist plays a key role in cementing the picture’s success, while the eclectic supporting cast, which includes Billy Bob Thornton, Claire Danes, and Joaquin Phoenix, does an effective job of providing irresistible bursts of color around the margins. It’s just as clear, however, that U Turn, saddled with a 125 minute running time, does suffer from a rather hit-and-miss midsection, as Stone emphasizes Bobby’s almost episodic encounters with a myriad of off-kilter figures. (Bobby’s bizarre tete-a-tete with Jon Voight’s homeless veteran is certainly a momentum-killer.) The stirring, impressively grim final stretch ensures that the whole thing finishes on an exceedingly compelling note, which ultimately confirms U Turn’s place as a perpetually watchable thriller from a decidedly erratic filmmaker.

*** out of ****

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