MovieChat Forums > U Turn (1997) Discussion > you know youre watching an oliver stone ...

you know youre watching an oliver stone film when....

posted 20 years ago by sonikyouth
27 replies | jump to latest

-the film takes place, or was shot in either new mexico, arizona, or texas.
-a native american shows up at least once or in a cutaway shot.
-the story isnt anything too out of the ordinary, yet you are still creeped out or left with an eerie feeling
-there is at least one use of timelapse, black and white, cutaway shots, double exposure, or a wide angle lens
-the film was done in more mediums than you have fingers.
-there is music in parts that never have music in other movies
-there is at least one reference to a religion other than chrisitianity
-you feel sick
-you feel politically or socially motivated
-you feel generally uneasy about war
-you look at the dramatic side of human behavior, and dont nessicarily pay attention to detail
-you wonder how much better the movie would be if you experimented with different substances before you watched it.
-you feel the sudden need to post something about it on imdb.
this was just a joke. oliver stone is one of my favorite directors, i just wanted to poke a little fun at what i noticed and see if anyone else either agreed or had anything to add.

[–] ktothef-1 18 years ago

-character assaulted by barely repressed traumatic past by way of black and white cutaways full of indistinct screaming. (don't know if it happens in u-turn, but it probably does).

[–] MagicStarfire 18 years ago

you see something gross or gory that you'd just as soon not have to look at, and that wasn't necessary. (like the vultures eating).

But I, too, love Oliver Stone's films.

I especially liked this one - Jennifer Lopez was beautiful and showed she had talent, and there were four of my favorite actors in it - Sean Penn, Joaquin Phoenix, Billy Bob Thornton, and Powers Boothe.

The story was outstanding, and Sean, Joaquin and Powers were all quite easy on the eyes.

[–] arturro83 18 years ago

- when Sean Stone (child of Oliver Stone) plays

[–] FangsFirst 16 years ago

heck yeah, all those elements remind me of Platoon!
...wait....

[–] puredingo 16 years ago

For some reason the fake blood he uses makes me sick and i can sort of taste it.

I had a fish named Sam he lived in a bowl........

[–] SlangForArt 16 years ago

The comments about the visual style have more to do with Robert Richardson being allowed to run free than Oliver Stone.

A Clockwork Orange is the greatest film ever.

[–] BobStage 16 years ago

Some actors are cast in a role they are perfect for, and a couple of others are cast in roles they have no experience in.

In "JFK", the usually comedic Laurie Metcalf, Wayne Knight, and John Candy all give great performances as serious actors. Meanwhile, Joe Pesci is able to give way to his ranting, swearing lines that always work for him, and Kevin Costner is bravely heroic with a streak of stubbornness and patriotism.

In "Born on the Fourth of July", Tom Cruise gave one of his greatest roles of all time, and nobody had seen it coming. Of course, Stone then casts ten of the supporting actors from "Platoon" to even the score.

In "Platoon", Tom Berenger was used to being a good guy and now delivers an amazing villain. Willem Dafoe, easily known as a bad guy, gives a heartfelt role as a caring, dignified person who looks out for his men.

Stone tends to get lucky with his casting, but sometimes it doesn't work out (Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, Powers Boothe, Joaquin Phoenix, Claire Danes, Daryl Hannah)

But compare that to all the amazing performances these guys have given him
(The entire cast of "JFK", "Platoon", "Natural Born Killers", "Salvador", Michael Douglas, Martin and Charlie Sheen, Hal Holbrook, Anthony Hopkins, Colin Farrell, Jared Leto, Sean Penn, James Woods, Terence Stamp, James Karen, Nick Nolte, Billy Bob Thornton, the cast of "Heaven and Earth", the Baldwin brothers, etc. etc.)

[–] SlangForArt 16 years ago

"Powers Boothe, Joaquin Phoenix, Claire Danes,"

I didn't see anything wrong with these performances in U-Turn.

A Clockwork Orange is the greatest film ever.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Degree7 11 years ago

- The main character is a nihilistic, selfish, misanthrope who has comes from planet odd-ball.

- At least one character is a mouthpiece for Stone's political diatribes, while the rest are caricatures.

- A jab at Republicans is made somewhere.

- The lead actor is on cocaine.

Limit of the Willing Suspension of Disbelief: directly proportional to its awesomeness.

[–] hitnwalz 10 years ago

I'm elaborating on the timelapse point here
- "sunrise to sunset" timelapse shots not necessarily in tune with actual days passing in the film
- snaaaaaaaake