Spin (2003/I)

Director:

James Redford

Writers (WGA):

Donald Everett Axinn (novel)
James Redford (screenplay)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Plot:

An orphaned boy is raised by a Latino family in the 1950s.

Plot Keywords:

Plane Crash | Coming Of Age | Period Film | Aviation | Teenage

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Brendan Guy Murphy	...	Sam Haley (as Brendan Murphy)
Max Madore	...	Young Eddie
Rubén Blades	...	Ernesto
Dana Delany	...	Margaret
Stanley Tucci	...	Frank Haley
Marissa Baca	...	Young Francesca
Daniel O'Haco	...	Alberto Montoya (as Danny O'Haco)
Ryan Merriman	...	Eddie Haley
David Alexander Johnston	...	Principal (as David A. Johnston)
Rich Montague	...	Brad
Dave Adams	...	Coach Allen (as David Adams)
Michael Heistand	...	Chris
Paula Garcés	...	Francesca
Heather Conforto	...	Julie (as Heather Rae)
Miguel Ortega	...	Manny

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and some violent images.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Arizona, USA

Company:

Spin Prods. LLC

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Eddie gets into the plane to fly to Mexico and pick up Francesca, he starts the plane from the interior. The Piper seen in the film was a model that did not have an interior starting mechanism - someone had to spin the propeller to start the aircraft.

Soundtrack:

Fine Looking Woman

Flying colors

"Spin" came as a total surprise. We had not heard about the movie before, so when it was shown on cable recently, we decided to watch it, something that paid off because it is basically an unpretentious look at a not too distant past. James Redford, is making his debut as a director showing he has an eye for detail.

The story centers around Eddie. When we meet him, he is a young boy who has to deal with the premature death of his parents in a small plane crash. As a result, his only living relative is a distant uncle, a major in the Air Force, who practically abandons him to the caretaker couple that works for him in the Arizona ranch. Eddie's uncle, as well as his father, have a passion for flying that is transferred to the young man. A few years go by and next we see a teen aged Eddie who is not doing well in school. His friendship with the lovely Francesca develops into love, but fate intervenes in their lives.

The film has a lovely finished look thanks to the cinematography of Paul Ryan who captured the rugged Arizona landscape in all its glory. The musical score is by Todd Boekelheide, which serves the film well. The performances are credible as Ryan Merriman makes us care for his Eddie. Stanley Tucci, Dana Delany, Ruben Blades and Paula Garces are the other performers.

James Redford does a good job with his first directorial assignment.