Turn the River

Turn the River can be described as a revenge drama. However, the theme of the film itself is not that interesting, certainly because it's a big cliché. However, this is the first film that i ever saw which take very seriously snook. I really don't give a dawn about that game, but anyways...it's a relatively 'original' idea. But apart from that, there is really nothing interesting about that film. The story concept, as i already mentioned is a cliché. And i really do not like low budget films which don't have nothing interesting to add. So maybe this is why i didn't like that much the B films. Rarely a Reservoir Dogs kind of B films appears. Back to the film, which explanations about the reasons of the revenge aren't really clever. It's a crucial element in any revenge film. All we'd know is that she wants to retrieve her son and escape with him. Not convincing. So. Yeah. That's not a worthy film, unless if you'd like snook, i suppose. 4.5/10

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.

I will say that Chris Eigeman's "Turn the River" constitutes a worthy character study, but I did find it a little slow. Famke Janssen plays Kailey Sullivan, a woman with some problems in life. However, she does have one noble aim: rescuing her son (Jaymie Dornan) from his abusive father. From here, much of the movie centers on Kailey's playing pool and how it works into her plan.

Like I said, this movie works best as a character study, as I found it a little slow. One thing that I wondered while watching it is how they film people playing pool. You can't tell where the balls will go when people hit them, so do the people behind the camera just film the scene over and over again until the balls go the right way? Anyway, OK seeing maybe once. Also starring Rip Torn.

This is the kind of movie with a deep emotional undertone and display of character that you don't see very often these days. Far from being superficial, this movie has more to it than 90 percent of stuff produced. Acting, setup and direction is all supreme. The director gives his characters time to develop, so you really feel you know them. But this is not a movie for those looking for a lot of action or violence, which is only applied when appropriate here.

Nice character study of a female pool player whose life is going in smaller and smaller circles and simply wants out, but knows no way to get out.

Excellent performances from Famke Janssen who brings a real underplayed performance, and particularly Rip Torn, who I normally tolerate - as it always seems to be a variation of the MIB character - here he plays the pool hall owner and gives a very good performance indeed - nicely underplayed.

The plot of pool player trying to find meaning in her life with her estranged son is good - but the film is at its best when it's playing pool - just wish there had been more and more of that - very nice. The hustling is never glamorized and feels authentic and kind of grubby.

All in all a nice small indie movie that delivers a satisfying character study of the type normally given to guys - and for that alone it is notable.

For first time director Chris Eigeman whose previous acting credits are more in the romantic comedy line or TV shows - this ain't bad at all...