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Directed by Oliver Stone
US 1997

Director Oliver Stone’s U Turn (1997), with a script by John Ridley based on his novel, is a sensationally trippy Southwestern neo-noir—and yet another in Stone’s series of cinematic meditations on the American character. Not a pretty, but always a fascinating picture, with standout performances from the phenomenal likes of Sean Penn, Billy Bob Thornton, Nick Nolte, Powers Boothe, Jennifer Lopez, Bo Hopkins, Joaquin Phoenix, and Claire Danes. Shot, in a dazzling variety of styles, by Robert Richardson (Django Unchained) and highlighted by a score from maestro of maestros Ennio Morricone.

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Oliver Stone directed this John Ridley screenplay adapted from Ridley's novel Stray Dogs. A drifter (Sean Penn) eludes Las Vegas collection agents and arrives in a small town where he decides to linger after his car has a breakdown. Here he gets involved with the locals, including an unhappily married couple -- a businessman (Nick Nolte) and his seductive, femme-fatale wife (Jennifer Lopez). A trailer trash teen (Claire Danes) also approaches him in an effort to get away from her abusive boyfriend (Joaquin Phoenix). Tensions in the town escalate, eventually leading to murder. Stone wanted to change the title from U-Turn back to Stray Dogs but encountered a problem with Akira Kurosawa, who felt it was too similar to his detective classic, Stray Dog (1949) with Toshiro Mifune.

  Posters

 

Theatrical Release:  October 27th, 1997 (Telluride Film Festival)

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Comparison:

Sony - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray

1) Sony - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 

Box Covers

    

  

Distribution Sony - Region 1 - NTSC Twilight Time
Region FREE -
Blu-ray
Runtime 2:04:16 2:04:25.124
Video 1.80:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 4.36 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

Disc Size: 34,760,563,938 bytes

Feature Size: 34,025,816,064 bytes

Total Bitrate: 25.00 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Bitrate: Blu-ray

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 4159 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 4159 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 /
48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentaries:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1072 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1072 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 /
48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1074 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1074 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 /
48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit)
Isolated Score and effects track:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 2808 kbps 5.0 / 48 kHz / 2808 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.0 /
48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)

Subtitles English, Spanish, French, None English (SDH), none
Features Release Information:
Studio: Sony

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio - 1.80:1

Edition Details:
• None

DVD Release Date: March 31st, 1998

Keep Case
Chapters: 28

Release Information:
Studio:
Twilight Time

 

Disc Size: 34,760,563,938 bytes

Feature Size: 34,025,816,064 bytes

Total Bitrate: 25.00 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC

 

Edition Details:
Oliver Stone Introduces U Turn (2:49)
Audio Commentary with Director Oliver Stone
Audio Commentary with Producer/Production Executive Mike Medavoy and Film Historian Nick Redman
Isolated Score Track
Original Theatrical Trailer (2:34)

8-page liner notes by Julie Kirgo

Limited to 3,000 unites
 

Blu-ray Release Date: March, 2015
Standard Blu-ray case

Chapters 24

 

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were obtained directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray March 15': The new Twilight Time 1080P improves in the expected areas - it is brighter, more realistic, slightly cooler, skin tones, deeper colors, wonderful consistent textures and an occasional sense of depth. Nothing looks cropped although the Blu-ray may have a sliver more information in the frame. U Turn was shot with a variety of styles including extreme close-ups and these tend to show-off the higher detail and even grain of the Blu-ray.

Twilight Time use a DTS-HD Master 5.1 at a massive 4159 kbps. The film is filled with subtle and overt effects and punchy, scary stuff is coming out of all corners of the home theatre. The Ennio Morricone score sounds great too - adding to the film's mysterious directions. Depth is frequently prevalent as well as a notably crisp high end. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles and the Blu-ray disc is region FREE.

Twilight Time include there usual Isolated Music & Effects Track (in lossless), plus a 3-minute Oliver Stone Introduction to U Turn as well as a commentary from the director filled with insight about the evolution of the film and the production. But we also get a newer audio commentary with Producer/Production Executive Mike Medavoy and film historian Nick Redman probing further into the film's dark cinema-ish manifestations, the directors choices and the performances. There is also an original theatrical trailer and the package contains an 8-page liner notes booklet with photos and an essay by Julie Kirgo. It is limited to 3,000 units.

We have a perfect anti-hero in Sean Penn abandoned to his desert prison with only super femme-fate Jennifer Lopez as another potential escape from his monetary woes that are on his heels. This is a magnificent neo-noir masterwork from Oliver Stone - a film I never tire of re-watching. This Twilight Time Blu-ray may be one to go out of print fairly soon so those keen should act sooner rather than later. The two commentaries add essential value. Our highest recommendation!  

Gary W. Tooze


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2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Sony - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Sony - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Sony - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Sony - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Sony - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Sony - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

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Distribution Sony - Region 1 - NTSC Twilight Time
Region FREE -
Blu-ray

 




 

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Gary Tooze

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