Spun (2002)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

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 | Speed Freak | Gay | Hypodermic Needle

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:

Madonna was originally cast as "The Neighbor, then porn star then Ginger Lynn Allen. The role eventually went to Deborah Harry. Madonna backed out because of scheduling conflicts with her 2001 North American tour. Lynn backed out for unknown reasons, and was replaced by Harry.

Goofs:

Continuity: When April is tied up, before Ross leaves the first time, the blood on her nose is inconsistent between cuts.

Quotes:

Nikki: [revealing to Ross that she has a son] The state took him away. It's weird, cause stuff happens and you don't really notice it while it's happening... life is sort of passing by. I held him once. Yeah, he felt so nice in my arms. And then they took him away. And I'm gonna hold him again. I'm gonna hold him real tight. I'm gonna hold him so tight that no one can ever take him away from me ever again.

Movie Connections:

References Trainspotting (1996)

Soundtrack:

Automatic Lover

A wild ride

Spun is a wild ride, an ADD movie that seems to say, `If you don't like what's on screen right now, don't worry it'll change in the next ten seconds.' Director Jonas Akerlund, cut his teeth in the frenetic world of music video and it shows. Spun spins out of control from its opening minutes, shooting out images and plot points willy nilly. This makes Snatch look slow by comparison. If you can keep up with the pace, there is something here. Akerlund takes us deep inside the crystal meth culture, and it is an unnerving but hilarious journey. We meet a group of characters tied together by their association with one man, the crystal meth cook. We get a good sense of the lives of these characters, and even like some of them, no matter how addled they are by their addictions. What we see in Spun isn't story driven as much as it simply a slice of life – a dirty, sped up slice of life. Good performances compliment the material, particularly from Mickey Rourke as the Cook, Jason Schwartzman as the likeable speed freak and John Leguizamo who sheds almost all his inhibitions in this role.