Product Description

When a pool shark (Famke Janssen) is desperate to escape her haunted past and ex-husband, she hatches a dangerous plot and is forced to take the ultimate gamble. Award-winning and critically acclaimed, Turn the River is edgy and suspenseful with stakes that have never been higher.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #46068 in DVD
• Brand: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAIN.
• Released on: 2008-07-22
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 92 minutes

Customer Reviews

For the Famke fans and/or pool players only...
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.

Embarrassing...and a waste of good talent..
Famke Janssen.
Rip Torn.
Great character actors.
It's all here with the exception of a decent denouement.
Decent! Say rather proper.
You don't titilate the audience with a good storyline and then pull out the rug. For no viable reason.
The last minutes of this production are so silly and dumb that it borders on the ridiculous. If you listen to the Director Commentary it becomes even more mundane and foolish.
A bad shot for cinematic entertainment.
Judge for yourself.

"Is She Right?"~ Hustling, Motherhood And A Desperate Act Of Love
I had never heard of this film before spotting the DVD cover on my local video rental establishment. There is was, Famke Janssen. Those expressive, wide open eyes, long black hair and drop dead gorgeous face staring at me as she stretched across the pool table. Needless to say that was more than enough encouragement to convince me that this would be a worthy rental.

Synopsis: The film I'm talking about is the '07 release `Turn the River', a tale of one wronged woman's struggle to reclaim her son from his abusive Father. In desperation she devises a plan to raise the needed cash via her impressive talent from playing cards and pool and escape with him across the U.S./Canadian border.

Critique: Famke is excellent in this film and displays more range and versatility than I had previously given her credit for, although in keeping with the role her natural beauty is never utilized. The cinematography was also a little too dark, many sequences taking place in a dimly lit pool hall, at night, or in a semi-light room. It was just a little too drab for my tastes. The ending was also a little too abrupt and disappointing. There's definitely no happy ending in this one.

Worth a watch, especially if you're a Famke Janssen fan.