Product Details

• Actors: Famke Janssen, Jaymie Dornan, Rip Torn, Matt Ross, Lois Smith
• Directors: Chris Eigeman
• Writers: Chris Eigeman
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Screen Media
• DVD Release Date: July 22, 2008
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00195FUEG
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #83,139 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Turn the River (Widescreen)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars For the Famke fans and/or pool players only..., July 25, 2008

By 

Steve Kuehl "SLV Video" (Boulder Creek, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Turn the River (Widescreen) (DVD)

I was interested in seeing this since the film made the distributor posters like the mainstream movie artwork (listed as the number two title this week behind 21), plus it was given a must-see from the indie blurbs in the pre-booking literature.

Famke leads a first-time director and recognizable supporting cast in Rip Torn, Lois Smith and Terry Kinney in what is essentially a pool playing/gambling film. Rip plays a pool hall owner that helps a vice-laden mother (Famke) earn volumes of money through setting matches. Her estranged son since birth, played convincingly by Jaymie Dornan, writes letters to her and secretly meets with her in hopes of establishing any kind of relationship. In the course of their writings Famke determines that her son should be with her instead of his over-bearing father. She formulates a plan to hustle a large chunk of money and flee the Country with him.

The film is primarily about a mother-son relationship, but in a very strained way as no real back story is given. The film takes place in NYC, but that never seems to play a role either, so that leaves the biggest fans of this piece being the avid pool players. There are a variety of games and incredible shots played out, but the film is only held together by Famke's very convincing portrayal. That of a mom wanting to be with her son, yet creating a way to escape her unending circle of gambling to pay the bills.

Some of the complaints I hear are the slow pace, unfilled story lines, choppy text and ambiguous yet poorly played ending. The strengths have been the string music used throughout, Famke, and the awesome pool shots. Listening to the commentary was unrewarding as Famke talks very little, but the only other DVD special feature is worth the visit. It shows the 4-bank shot Famke makes in the film was a first take. All of the mistakes made in writing the film and actually shooting it (as the director lists them) are apparent and detract from what could have been a much better film.

Not one I would recommend for a competent story film, but definitely a nod for the pool players as some of the matches go on forever; provides for some great cue work.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A respectable but flawed effort, August 15, 2011

By 

Anders Martinson "biketowork" (Oregon) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Turn the River (Widescreen) (DVD)

The curious movie goer should always be willing to engage with a story that hasn't been told or one that's told in a new way. This is where Turn the River gets off to a good start. The lead and supporting performances are all good and bring some humanity to some otherwise unsympathetic characters. The problem is that setup has dug such a deep moral hole for Kailey that you can't really cheer for her especially as she embarks upon a strategically, legally, and ethically dubious endeavor.

Of course we want a good outcome for her son Gulley, but the path the film sets out for them will make that outcome either unbelievable or worse than what he's already facing. The title cleverly combines Kailey's gambling with the challenges we faces once fate and our decisions have set us on a particular path. The story, however, forces Gulley to accept the lesser of two evils without giving him any say in his destiny.

Gulley's parents and grandmother are all ill-equipped to give him a happy, loving home, and since he's only a spectator in their misdeeds, there's a sort of helpless feeling for him that the story has no way of resolving. Worth seeing for the performances and the (albeit flawed) originality, and definitely the pool shots, just don't set your expectations too high.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars strong perfomances and atmosphere overcome underwhelming drama, February 12, 2010

By 

Roland E. Zwick (Valencia, Ca USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Turn the River (Widescreen) (DVD)

***1/2

Hardscrabble single moms appear to be all the rage in indie dramas these days. That may account for why, after "Frozen River," "Sleepwalking" and the like, "Turn the River" doesn't feel quite as original and fresh as it otherwise might.

Kailey Sullivan is a down-on-her-luck pool hustler who doesn't even have visitation rights with her 11-year-old son who lives with his abusive dad and stepmother. Kailey's plan is to make just enough money at the tables to enable her to grab the kid and head north of the border.

Written and directed by Chris Eigeman, "Turn the River" has a nice feel for the rhythms and tones of everyday life, with the drama as understated as the performances. The scenes between mother and son are particularly well conceived and executed. There is sensitive, thoughtful, subtle work by Famke Janssen as Kailey; Jaymie Dornana as her son, Gulley; Matt Ross as Gulley's dad; Lois Smith as the boy's paternal grandmother; and Rip Torn as the pool hall owner who sets up matches for the cash-strapped Kailey and serves as go-between for her and her son.

Even the melodrama at the end is nicely underplayed, so much so that we can forgive the air of déjà vu that hangs over much of the work.