Turn the River

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...

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.

The pool was fun to watch, that was the only thing fun to watch in this movie. The quality of the film was very low budget. Terrible cinematography, with a camera that shakes. The movie is slow to get going and takes quite awhile before it explains what is going on. The script and acting is terrible... and the ending is not pleasant. The movie is basically like someone taking a camera, choosing a person and following them around for the next few days. It's a very simple and depressing.

Thanks to a review by hikergirl_tx I have become aware of an explanation for an ending I previously considered so completely bizarre I thought I had a faulty copy of the DVD. If you have concerns about the ending check out her review. My assessment pretty much coincides with everyone else's. A little short on plot, a horrible pointless title (unless there was some untapped potential audience among poker players, which there isn't since those people never leave the casino,) very little action, pool scenes that are staged to make a few trick shots look like actual expertise etc. The movie is quite dark, with adequate to excellent performances all around, but again - that ending.