Turn the River

Name: Turn the River
Genre: Drama
Released: May 9, 2008
Duration: 92 min
Rating: 55

2008

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Ratings

See All

5.8

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

5.8	Your Score
5.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Turn The River

Now Playing: Turn The River

Movie Details & Credits

Screen Media Films | Release Date: May 9, 2008 | R

Summary: A poker-playing pool hustler takes her last shot at redemption by trying to score enough money to run away with the son she was forced to abandon at birth. [Screen Media Films]

Director: Chris Eigeman

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 92 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

David Edelstein

Has a mixture of edginess and melancholy that's beautifully sustained until the climax, when the tang of realism becomes the cudgel of melodrama. Read full review

Nick Pinkerton

Turn the River can't weather the ante-upping into pathos when Kailey desperately reasserts her privilege of motherhood--but the sense of storytelling intelligence is undeniable. Read full review

Ronnie Scheib

Atmospheric picture positively vibrates with authenticity, and Janssen's intense, febrile performance earned a special jury prize at the Hamptons fest. Read full review

Carina Chocano

The main problem with Turn the River is that it's a well-acted, if not terribly well-crafted, character-driven drama without much in the way of a purpose. Read full review

Stephen Holden

Until it transforms into an improbable thriller, Turn the River is a finely observed portrait of a desperate working-class woman who refuses to play by ordinary rules. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

An only-in-the-movies mother hustles pool to raise the money to abduct the son she's been forbidden to see since her divorce. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Turn the River lacks almost everything Eigeman has as a performer: charisma, wit and snappy delivery. Read full review

SEE ALL 10 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

JayH.

Jul 17, 2008

Slowly paced but it works for most of this movie. Very well acted by the entire cast, the story is well written and the direction by Chris Eigeman is very careful and thoughtful.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Tss5078

Feb 22, 2013

Turn The River is a stupid story, that is poorly directed, and just plain boring. Kailey is a professional gambler who not only lost custody of her son when she got divorced, but also lost the right to even see him. She is convinced that he ex-husband is abusing her twelve year old son, theTurn The River is a stupid story, that is poorly directed, and just plain boring. Kailey is a professional gambler who not only lost custody of her son when she got divorced, but also lost the right to even see him. She is convinced that he ex-husband is abusing her twelve year old son, the way he abused her, and she's determined to do the only thing she can about. Kailey goes on a quest to win as much money as she can, so she can get her son and take him away to a better place. First of all, we have no idea why Kailey can't see her son and we so no evidence of abuse by her ex-husband. Gambling, also infers random games of chance, but not with Kailey, honestly it's just ridiculous. The film stars X-men beauty Famke Janssen, who is quite good looking, but unfortunately very dry as an actress. Her son, Law Orders Jamyie Dornan, is a bit more entertaining, but the role is so badly written, that no one could have made it work. A lot of things are alleged and assumed in this movie, but we aren't shown any of it. It's impossible to separate fact from bull in this incredibly slow dud of a movie. The script is terrible, the acting is bland, and the direction is sloppy. If you suffer from chronic insomnia, try watching this!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 2 REVIEWS