Spun

Spoof, Dope, Crank, Dank, Creep, Bomb, Spank, Shit Bang, Zip, Tweak - call it what you will it’s all Methamphetamine. This form of narcotic is the drive behind, music video director, Jonas Akerland’s debut feature.

Ross hangs out at Spider Mike’s house. Spider is having a bad day, he is a dealer who’s lost his stash and although his customers seem less than concerned he is somewhat paranoid about his situation. Ross makes other plans to score. He agrees to drive The Cook (Mickey Rourke), the guy who makes his drug of choice in a motel room, and his girl Nikki (Britney Murphy) to various places around town. This arrangement lasts three days through multiple hits/trips little sleep and a stripper tied naked to a bed!

The music video influence in this film is obvious; the editing is fast, frenetic and sometimes a little bit too much, the soundtrack though is great and you wouldn’t expect any less from Akerland whose pedigree includes videos for The Prodigy, Madonna and Robbie Williams.

I loved the casting for this film, some against type, Mena Suvari as an addict with horrible teeth, some expected, Britney Murphy the manipulative sexpot and some outstanding. Rourke carries the film as The Cook. Becoming Ross’ mentor although the distinction between reality and the drug infused advise is, for Ross, murky at best but provides a lot of laughs for the informed audience. One in particular delivered in a porno video store disagrees entirely with Tom Cruise’s male empowerment guru in Magnolia trust me you will enjoy! Finally Jason Schwartzman is Ross the young drop out in whose company we spend most of the film. This is the first film I have seen Schwartzman in but his performance as a college drop out drug addict is first class, the agitated young man able to leave a naked beauty tied sprawled to his bed for three days is believable and gains the audiences sympathy easily.

I liked the performances in this film some of the speeches are great and the editing is bold and unforgiving. However I have read in numerous other reviews “Style over Substance”. The music video styling with Methamphetamine as the substance lets this film down. It’s not sure whether it’s meant to be commenting on drug abuse, highlighting it, or just enjoying it as a subject.

Still I think as entertainment its fun and if you don’t take it too seriously you will come out smiling and probably feeling better about your own life, assuming that is you don’t take drugs!

Pip Johnstone