Turn the River

I liked this one because of its unusual setting and unpredictable plot. Totally compelling drama, set much of the time in the world of pool halls.

You are in a good mood? Well, this one is a real downer. Painful drama centering around a female pool hustler and her son who lives with his father. Brilliant and intense performances by Famke Janssen and the little Jaymie Dornan (the son). Good performances by Rip torn (pool hall owner) and Matt Ross (father).

Moody gambling drama with a shamelessly loaded emotional deck, set in a world where top-shelf forgers hang out for extended periods with and at the favored public spots of prospective customers who are known criminals planning imminent kidnappings. Yet it's clear Eigeman is going for verisimilitude--I can appreciate that he doesn't dumb-down the arcane lingo and procedure but it comes off somewhat amateurishly, a transparent attempt at quick 'n seedy "reality" through viewer befuddlement.