Spun (2002)

Director:

Jonas Åkerlund

Writers:

Will De Los Santos (screenplay)
Creighton Vero (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 February 2003 (Norway)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

the ultimate speed freak's tale.

Plot:

An out-of-control speed freak (Schwartzman) is introduced his drug of choice's creator (Rourke) by his dealer (Leguizamo). A massive three-day adventure ensues (with Fugit, Murphy, and Suvari in tow). |

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | Speed Freak | Speed | Gay Man | Sexual Fantasy

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Jason Schwartzman	...	Ross
Mickey Rourke	...	The Cook
Brittany Murphy	...	Nikki
John Leguizamo	...	Spider Mike
Patrick Fugit	...	Frisbee
Mena Suvari	...	Cookie
Chloe Hunter	...	April Love
Elisa Bocanegra	...	Giggles
Julia Mendoza	...	La Sadgirl
China Chow	...	Escort
Nicholas Gonzalez	...	Angel
Deborah Harry	...	Neighbor
Josh Peck	...	Fat Boy
Charlotte Ayanna	...	Amy
Eric Roberts	...	The Man

Also Known As:

The Cook (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive drug content, strong sexuality, language and some violence. (video release only; rating surrendered for theatrical release)

Runtime:

101 min | Argentina:106 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Hungary:18 | Iceland:16 | Singapore:(Banned) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:18A (edited version) | Canada:R | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | Germany:16 | Ireland:(Banned) (original rating) | Ireland:18 (re-rating on appeal) | Italy:VM18 | Japan:R-18 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:Open (rating surrendered: 2002) | USA:R (original rating) (cut) | USA:R (video rating) | USA:Unrated (theatrical release) (uncut)

Filming Locations:

Circus Liquor - 5600 Vineland Avenue, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Brink Films

Trivia:

The script is based on interviews with several admitted methamphetamine addicts from Eugene, Oregon, including some tales by co-writer Will Hilbert, a.k.a. Will De Los Santos, who was born in Fontana, California, not Hawaii.

Goofs:

Continuity: While the cops are waiting to go in and bust Frisbee, his bicycle is seen leaning up against the trailer. This is before he had made his arrival on the bicycle.

Quotes:

The Cook: [telling a story to Ross, whose asleep in the passenger seat] I tell ya, I remember a time when I was about... I was little, I don't know... 4, 5 something like that. We had this old dog that had a litter of puppies. And I walked in the bathroom one day and my Mother was standing there, kneeling down... Dog had a litter of about 8, and my Mother was bending over killing each one of these little puppies in the bathtub. I remember I said 'why?'...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Drive

Excellent!

This film was great! Many people have compared it to Requiem for a Dream, however I preferred this movie. Requiem accurately depicted drug addiction and how low some people would sink for their next hit. It was a very depressing and powerful movie, not one I would ever want to watch again. You leave the theater feeling extremely drained. Spun is altogether different. The only thing they have in common is their central theme. Spun centers around Ross, the fairly normal speed freak as his addiction takes him farther and farther away from reality.

Initially, I thought the characters were grossly overacted, however as the movie progressed, the opening sequences did not seem as far removed from Ross' world as I had originally thought. It was very interesting to see Ross' character move farther and farther away from reality. It was only a 3-day all-you-can-consume speed trip, however he started off as a normal guy with a drug problem and ended up on Mars, completely detached from reality. I also thought the cartoon sequences were very effective, they accurately demonstrated his impoverished state of mind while he was tripping. The audience got the impression he really was flying in his own world. It was interesting to see the lifestyles of the other people involved in the drug trade, most had been completely dehumanized by their dependence, living in squalor yet completely unaware of their surroundings.

A great film! One that I can watch again for entertainment purposes only, but which also drives home the anti-drug message without being preachy. 8/10