Remember When J.Lo Shined in Oliver Stone's Iconic Film?

First, there was "Jenny from the Block," then "J-Lo the Fly Girl" on In Living Color, followed by a long film career beginning in the early 90s. Right out of the shoot in her silver screen career, Jennifer Lopez delivered many widely seen movies, including Money Train, Anaconda, and a relative breakout as Tejano sensation Selena in the eponymously named tragic biopic. During this period, as her star was on the rise, she did some of her best work in a film by Oliver Stone, one of the most acclaimed directors of the time, coming off controversial projects like JFK and Natural Born Killers. In U-Turn, she was in the lead female role alongside several A-listers like Sean Penn, Billy Bob Thornton, Nick Nolte, Joaquin Phoenix, Claire Danes, Jon Voight, and Powers Boothe. Based on the novel Stray Dogs by John Ridley, it was the first film in which she would take on the essential femme fatale, allowing her to spread her wings as a sensual performer in a way we had yet to see on screen.

What Is 'U Turn' About?

Bobby Cooper (Penn) is a down-on-his-luck drifter whose car breaks down in a small desert town about an hour outside Phoenix, Arizona, in a small town called Superior. When he realizes that the sleazy local mechanic, Darrell (Thornton), will make it difficult for him to have his car promptly repaired, he heads into town. That is when he encounters the troublesome locals, including a beautiful young married woman. Lopez plays Grace McKenna, and she immediately proves to be too much of a temptation for Bobby.

After a short and tawdry game of cat and mouse, Grace's wily feminine allure lands the two in a physical relationship. The problem is that she is married to Jake (Nolte), an influential local who catches the two in the act. What happens after that is a duplicitous scheme by both Grace and Jake to get Bobby to kill the other for cash. Bobby is hard up and owes an L.A. gangster $30 large, so he entertains both proposals and must decide which of the two will actually let him walk away after the deed is done. Bobby's luck goes from bad to worse as he just wants his car back to escape this bizarre Arizona town.

J-Lo Shines as the Pivotal Player Holding All the Cards in 'U Turn'

J-Lo has been a sex symbol for 35 years. But, until Stone tabbed her to play Grace in U-Turn, she had yet to have a part written for her where she was the subject of every man's physical desire. Stone uses a similar grainy jump-cutting style that he applied so deftly in Natural Born Killers and makes Lopez a scheming and wanton woman who isn't afraid to use her sensuality to her advantage. By the end of the film, every male character has made a plan to save her from her predicament.

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Lopez completely embraces the Hollywood femme fatale template, constantly flaunting her physical attributes as a devious means to an end. But it isn't just a "look pretty on screen" type of performance. She is compelling and calculating, drawing each man into her web of desire and money to the point that she juggles three separate lovers simultaneously. J-Lo is a gifted performer, and we are reminded of that in U-Turn. She is like a siren who appears like a damsel in distress but holds all the cards and plays each slap-dash suitor against the other.

Why Didn't Anyone See J-Lo's 'U Turn'?

Jennifer Lopez as Grace McKenna in U Turn (1997)

This is a question that isn't quickly answered. The film only managed to cobble $6 million in its summer of 1997 release despite J-Lo, who was amid a meteoric rise in the industry, and names like Penn, Nolte, Phoenix, Thornton, and Danes attached. It definitely doesn't fall at the feet of Lopez, who took full advantage of the opportunity to leave the girl boss roles behind and move on to the more nuanced and layered Grace McKenna in what we (along with Stone) thought would be her coming out party. It is highly possible that moviegoers hadn't responded to Natural Born Killers as well as expected because of the gratuitous gore and didn't trust the director at the time. As it turns out, the following year, In Plain Sight, opposite George Clooney, audiences began to view the dynamic performer as a versatile and bankable star.

U Turn is available to rent on Prime Video in the U.S.

Amal Clooney Wore Optical Illusion Jeans Cosigned by Jennifer Lopez—Fall-Ready Styles Start at $44

My list of must-try jean trends for 2026 is growing; it currently includes all the silhouettes one denim expert revealed to me as the must-watch of the year (save for baggy jeans, because I’ve been wearing those for years). That said, one style that didn’t land on said aforementioned list, but is clearly due for big, big things this year, is flare jeans. With a growing list of celebrity fans that includes Meghan Markle, Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon, Cindy Crawford, Kendrick Lamar (you know that moment), and, of course, Amal Clooney, there’s no denying the retro denim style that was popular in the early aughts is back—and bigger than ever.

The fact that Clooney wore flared jeans is noteworthy in and of itself. The human rights lawyer is known for her refined dressing approach, regularly opting for billowy trousers, trendy boho blouses, and comfy sweater dresses—all staples that read elegant and timeless. So, when I spotted her earlier this year in the laid-back blues while out to dinner with hubby George Clooney, I knew I had to write about it. Of course, the fact that she wore flare jeans, the style countless celebs have worn the last few weeks, is noteworthy, too, as it further cements the style’s ‘It’ status for 2026. 

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Spanx SpanxSculpt ReDefine Flare Jeans

Clooney opted for a pair of medium-wash jeans with subtle fading (another Y2K reference, IMO). Her blues had an ultra-high waist—so high, in fact, that they appeared to hit at the ribcage. It’s the complete opposite of the controversial low-rise denim, so it’s a possible sign that the high-high waist is coming back, too. Not to mention, Clooney’s jeans had a slightly oversized fit from the thighs to the ankles, but it’s that flared hem that has all my attention; it’s taking me back to my middle school days when I’d wear my True Religion flares every single day. (No joke.)

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It’s undeniable that Clooney’s jeans have that nostalgic flair (ahem, flare, wink, wink), but it’s also undeniable that celebs are clamoring to the style because it’s incredibly flattering. The blues basically act like an optical illusion, making legs look super long, especially when paired with a style that has an extra-long hemline and sky-high platforms á la Lopez; the singer is 5-feet-5-inches, but don’t you agree with me that she looks way taller in these jeans? Yeah, that’s thanks to the flares. The flare hem and longer inseams help create the look of legs for days, but add in a high-waisted cut, platform heels, and a crop top, and you’ll fool people into thinking you’re inches taller. 

Leg-elongating factor aside, there’s no denying that flares are fun and nostalgia-inducing—and that’s exactly what I need right now. So, shop some more fun, funky flares from Frame, NYDJ, and Mavi below.

NYDJ Barbara Jeans

Gap High Rise ‘70s Flare Jeans

Frame The Icon Raw Hem Flare Jeans