Rating: 
Summary: Awesome and real
Review: Spun is a great movie with an incendiary theme song by the Smashing Pumpkin's lead singer!
Rating: 
Summary: Still Spinning
Review: What an aptly titled film. After seeing Spun I felt, well, Spun. This is a drug movie in every sense. In terms of this genre it takes it's audience where only Star Trek has taken it's Sci-Fi audiences. Drug films aren't for everyone, but it is a wild ride, to say the least. Spun depicts a day, or several days, in the life of people hopelessly addicted to Meth. We join Ross (Jason Schwartzman), Spider Mike (John Leguizamo), Cookie (Mena Suvari), Nikki (Brittany Murphy) and The Cook (Mickey Rourke, who is awesome) in a place where few people will ever go with a substance abuse problem. They mostly have no jobs, no money, and no self-respect. Their addiction consumes them and their entire lives revolve around getting high and then getting more drugs so they can get high again. Since the film basically follows them through several days of this process and the misadventures that happen along the way it relies heavily on it's performances. And these actors are amazing, they really come through. The same goes for the world director Jonas Akerlund has created for them. The actors chew the scenery all right, but it is so vile that it looks like they would want to spit it out. Also, much has been said about the editing of the film. It is true, few pictures have this many cuts, but it works for the film in ways it wouldn't work for another. It adds to the notion that these people have no attention span and no concept of time. Spun now joins the ranks of other films illustrating graphic drug use such as Requim for a Dream, Trainspotting, and Drugstore Cowboy. It isn't as good as any of these films though, because it doesn't tell us enough about the characters (like where they came from, why they are so addicted, etc). That being said, Spun is still a good movie. Perhaps this is the point. None of the characters in Spun could tell you anything about themselves. In that sense Spun does what it sets out to do. Ever wonder what its like to be up for days on Meth? Spun is your movie.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: This movie isn't for everyone--harsh, obscene at times--but if you like edgie, indie stuff that's GENUINELY edgie and indie (not like contrived junk like THE DOOM GENERATION or PULP FICTION, where subpar talents like Quentin Morontino think they're geniuses, but ain't) you'll love this. It's really daring and orginal--scratch marks intentionally cover the entire film for edgie feel--and with all the darkness is some of the most hilarious humor I've seen in a while. My eyeballs were scalded watching this film, and I loved every second of it.
Rating:
Summary: Utterly Real
Review: This movie was brillant. The film takes you through Ross's mind while on crystal, coke, or speed. Jonas wonderfully directed it.
Rating: 
Summary: Artistically Capacitated
Review: While standing in the Neverending lineup for the Toronto Film Festival, I couldn't help but think about if it was really worth it to be wasting hours of my life just to be seeing a simple little film called "Spun". Now that I have seen it, I shock myself when thinking about how after waiting in a 2 hour line up - I was ready to leave. Jonas Akerlund's work on Spun is nothing but "truly genius" when it comes to cinematography and creating structure for the New Independent Films. My attention was held through every scene and after hearing his "Media conference" it is obvious why. He is such a creative man with a knowledable grasp of what is different. I can't help but shudder when thinking about watching most movies/films that are related to drugs, but this one was different. This film was artistic and expressive in showing the many pros and cons as well as the lifestyle that is ingested when you first consume your first feeling of "ecstasy" (being speed in this movie). I truly hope that there are more directors and filmmakers that can take tips from Mr. Akerlund and apply them to their own movies because there is nothing that is more worthy of time. If you are looking for a Hollywood "Studio Type" Business Blockbuster - Look elsewhere. This film is artistically clever and is more than enough to feed the spirit of anyone who is in need of a different taste in film. I'd give Spun a rating of 4**** because of its creative genius as well as Casting transitions. The actors and actresses were truly remarkable when taking on roles and characters that they had never worked with before. From Jason Schwartzman going from the clever and childishly geeky Rushmore student to a Mature (aside from drugwise)manly and entertaining characater that you can't help but adore, to Mena Suvari the annoyingly perfect, sweet and beautiful "American Pie" actress to the angry, unattractive, raging lounger. It seems like an all star young adult cast that is just not properly exposed to the media. You want acting skills? These are actors! Wonderful Film that makes me crave more of Jonas Akerlund. I could hardly be more impressed.
Rating:
Summary: Very entertaining, one of my absolute favourites...
Review: Okay, first off, please do not listen to all the pretentious reviewers who turn their nose up at "Spun", constantly repeating "Requiem for a Dream" in a pathetic, unoriginal mantra. This movie is highly imaginative, enthralling, and kept my interest the entire time. A friend of mine had it on video and said I should see it, so I had no expectations...and I was surprised to find it one of the most enjoyable movies I've ever seen. Again, regardless of what other negative reviewers have said, there is a plot line to the movie - watching the actions and events surrounding a group of speed freaks on a meth binge. It isn't pretty, it isn't insightful, and that's the point of the movie itself. Though the running theme is a bit dark and depressing (but alas presented a very humorous light), the characters are beautifully pathetic. Everyone was fabulous - Mickey Rourke, Brittany Murphy, Jason Schwartzman, everyone! My personal favourite was Patrick Fugit's portrayal of the loser Frisbee and his spastic tendancies (someone I haven't seen mentioned enough!). And, yet again, in contradiction to other reviewers, there is some character development; we discover the reason why our main characters are what they are, and in full honesty, there isn't much else to the character to know. All they have are their roots and their craving for another hit. The point of the movie was to show the disillusionment that lead to their lifestyle, the disillusionment they had concerning their drug habit...as Jason Schwartman says near the end, "..and the greatest thing about it is, I'm not hooked!" Not only is the story well done, but the stylistic elements were superb. The quick actions, the animations thrown in at just the right moments, even the lighting in every scene was perfect! The director uses a variety of techniques to add humor and a bit of insight into what the characters are experiencing. Everytime I've seen this film, at the end I feel a bit dizzy and overwhelmed - it effects you that heavily. I'm not one to go off and buy DVDs all the time. I only buy them if I know it's a movie I want to watch over and over again. "Spun" has joined that category of rarities that I enjoy watching constantly. As others have mentioned, it's not for the light at heart, or those looking for a serious look at drug addiction. It's not out to show the deep loving side of methheads, but the mindless lives they end up leading because of their out of control habits. Great story, awesome characters, not to mention a perfect soundtrack...what else is there to say?
Rating: 
Summary: designed to give one a headache
Review: You may want to keep a Bromo Seltzer handy while watching "Spun," a dizzying paean to drug pushers and drug addicts that looks and plays like a Baz Luhrmann production on speed. (...) This might have been effective if the script had any real, discernible sense of humor. Instead, the movie relies heavily on distorted close ups, frantic editing, corny reaction shots, insipid double takes and goofy sound effects to achieve its laughs. To say that it is unsuccessful in this area would be a masterpiece of understatement. The film is scarcely more successful when it turns all sentimental in the end - like one of those John Steinbeck stories about lovable losers and romanticized social outcasts, only in this case they're all hopped up on uppers. The cast includes such "name" players as Jason Schwartzman, Mickey Rourke, John Leguizamo, Deborah Harry, Eric Roberts and even porn legend Ron Jeremy, who makes a literally one shot cameo appearance as a sex club bartender. They all deserve better. Come to think of it, so do we. "Spun" may deserve points for trying to do something a bit different and innovative, but one would probably have to be a methamphetamine addict oneself to really enjoy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Unoriginal, overdone, and S-L-O-W
Review: I was visually nauseated throughout this film-yet sat through 75% of it because Mickey Rourke and Britney Murphy were interesting characters. Unfortunately, this film lost all credibility with me because it was trying way too hard to be "Requiem for a Dream".
I was irritated from the beginning with the obnoxious noises and constant close-ups. It had many well-known actors and actresses in it-but this did not make the film any more interesting. The storyline dragged on- and became incredibly uninteresting after about 25 minutes. My boyfriend asked me why I was still watching it. He had to leave the room b/c it was driving him nuts. As far as the director, he needs to find his own style.
Don't waste your time with this film.
Rating:
Summary: A weird and twisted but hilarious drug-movie!
Review: The Swedish music-video director Jonas Ã…kerlund gives us a movie about drugs. It is heavily inspired by greater drug-movies like "Trainspotting" (1996) and "Requiem For A Dream" (2000). But unlike most of the drug-movies I've seen earlier, "Spun" has no moral or deep meaning and message, it's just a film made to entertain and make you laugh. And it SURE made ME laugh... Just as I wrote in the first line...this film is about drugs. It's hard to find a real plot in this film. It's just about people doing drugs, especially Speed (the word "Spun" means to be affected by Speed), and the their messed-up lives and everyday situations, seen through drug-affection. But while "Spun" doesn't have a real story, it has a some other qualities to offer: funny and well-created characters, good actors, a good soundtrack and A LOT of funny scenes and situations (it is bizarre humor though, that may not be recommended for everyone). The main character Ross (played by Jason Schwartzman) is mostly a "ordinary" drug-abuser trapped in the sick world of drugs. But the other characters are funny, interesting and original. And the actors gives us these unrealistic, and sometimes almost cartoon-like characters, through some good acting. Characters like Spider Mike, played by John Leguizamo, a man I usually hate to see on the screen, and Frisbee, played by Patrick Fugit are highlights. But the one I will be remembering is Mickey Rourke in his role as The Cook (the one who's cooking up all the drugs). I could try to describe him, but it would have taken up too much space. You just have to see him for yourself...funniest character and performance of the film. Brittany Murphy is not only good-looking in this film, she's doing a good performance as the stripper Nikki. And let's not forget about Peter Stormare and Alexis Arquette, who shows up as some weird characters in some of the craziest scenes in the whole film. One thing that can be said about this film, is that it's weird. You can tell that Jonas Ã…kerlund is used to directing music-videos, because it may feel like a long music-video at times. And sometimes the film is so twisted that you just have to ask yourself "what the hell is going on on the screen??!!". To make this a "different" comedy, the director uses the style of fast-editing, experimental camera-work and the sometimes very shocking pictures, that was seen in Darren Aronofsky's drug-masterpiece "Requiem For A Dream" (2000). But the problem is that it's being over-used. I want to use a little comparison to the British film "Human Traffic" (1999). When I saw "Human..." I felt like the film was trying as hard as it could, to be like Danny Boyle's "Trainspotting" (1996). It failed miserably, and in the end I thought it was a bad movie. Now, when I watched "Spun" I felt like it was trying to do the same thing with "Requiem...". It didn't fail the same way as "Human..." though, but it is not even close to being comparable with "Requiem For A Dream". However, "Spun" makes it up with all the humor, and the fact that it is more of the "mindless fun" kind of comedy, that "Human Traffic" wasn't. But as I mentioned earlier, I think the style of the film (which was perfectly used in "Requiem For A Dream") is over-used, and became trying as the film approached it's climax. Therefor, I doubt I will be watching it from beginning to end, one more time. Overall, "Spun" was a VERY funny comedy, driven by it's well-created characters, to me. This is not humor that fits everyone though, and there will probably be someone (as always) that'll say that it's glorifying the use of drugs. I will recommend it though, if you want to take a trip to the miserable world of drugs, trough a different comedy
Rating:
Summary: 3.5 stars
Review: Good movie i dont know if its worth the $15, but in my case it was. Its a cool movie the characters are grimy and disgusting junkies but in a sense very realisitc. I will tell you one thing Cocaine is nothing compared to Crytsal Meth. And thats an opinion from a man who use to go to raves everyweekend for 5 years. its very realistic, but if you want to see a movie with the same plot see " Requiem for a dream" its absolutley better more gripping and moving with an intense ending. Actually Spun is very much a copy off of Requiem. But both are good and worth the $$$$ thats IMO atleast.
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