This was the very first movie I reviewed in a professional capacity:

Directed by Oliver Stone. Starring, Sean Penn, Jennifer Lopez, Nick Nolte, Billy Bob Thornton, Powers Booth, Claire Danes, John Voight and Joaquin Phoenix. Rated R. U-Turn opens in the Arizona Desert with graphic scenes of road kill which grab the attention and although horrific, evokes sporadic laughter, not so much tinged with mirth as shock and a little nausea.

In the opening sequences we meet a young man with a heavily bandaged hand and an obvious nervous disposition.

Luck is definitely not on Bobby's (Sean Penn) side and a burst radiator hose, necessitating a detour to the inaptly named Superior, Arizona, begins what turns out to be an eventful visit marred by more than his fair share of misfortune.

Bobby is a man running from his past. He owes 30gs to a gangster who previously relieved him of two fingers for being two weeks' late paying up (hence the bandage).

When Bobby manages to invite himself in for a shower at the home of the very sexy Grace (Jennifer Lopez), it would seem his luck is changing.

Grace however likes to play with a man's emotions (and hormonal balance) and flaunts herself in shameless fashion across the screen.

Just when it seems the male appetite may be whetted, Grace's hubby (Nick Nolte) busts our bubble and Bobby's nose.

But, not being one to hold a grudge, hubby Jake, offers Bobby a lift back to town during which he asks Bobby to kill his very lovely, and much younger wife. It seems Bobby was not her first flirt and Jake would rather collect on an insurance policy than put up with the public gossiping. Of course our Bobby has to take some time out to wrestle with his conscience before agreeing to the job and after losing all his dough in someone else's bungled hold-up he agrees to do the dastardly deed.... This movie toys with every emotion and base instinct of the human psyche.

Mostly we side with poor, hapless Bobby, except maybe when he agrees to snuff out the lovely Grace.

It is essentially a shocking yet comic story, deriving its very black humour from the desperation and unreal nature of the characters and their situation.

John Voight plays an incidental but very charming character and among the list of very famous stars look out for cameo appearances by the desk clerk from ER and Rosanne's TV sister.

The story twists and turns more times than the tracks of a delirious sidewinder but in the very unpredictable end leaves you with an inner grin that lasts all night.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie but would caution the week of stomach to BYO sickbag for those rather colourful death scenes.