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Jason Schwartzman, John Leguizamo, Mena Suvari, Patrick Fugit, Brittany Murphy ... see more see more... , Mickey Rourke , Peter Stormare , Alexis Arquette , Deborah Harry , Eric Roberts , Chloe Hunter , Julia Mendoza , Elisa Bocanegra , Josh Peck , Larry Drake , Charlotte Ayanna , Ron Jeremy , Tony Kaye , Rob Halford

A crystal-meth addict struggles to get his next fix as he obsesses over a recent breakup in Spun, a black-comic drug drama from music video director Jonas Akerlund. Rushmore's Jason Schwartzman stars ... read more read more...as Ross, a young man who finds his maniacal world crumbling around him over the course of one long weekend. Spun chronicles Ross' travails as he tries to score from his regular dealer, Spider Mike (John Leguizamo), who realizes during Ross' visit that he's misplaced his stash. Indisposed by the frantic drug search, Spider Mike's girlfriend, Cookie (Mena Suvari), enlists Ross to pick up her stripper friend Nikki (Brittany Murphy) from work, and when he grudgingly agrees, he learns that Nikki might have an inside line on some of her own speed, courtesy of The Cook (Mickey Rourke). Meanwhile, two bumbling cops are onto Spider Mike's trail, and in his paranoid-delusional state, he sets out to find out who set him up. Spun premiered at the 2002 CineVegas Film Festival before securing berths at the Sundance, Toronto, and South by Southwest festivals. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

Flixster Users

72% liked it

54,349 ratings

Critics

36% liked it

77 critics

R, 1 hr. 41 min.

Directed by: Jonas Åkerlund

Release Date: March 10, 2003

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DVD Release Date: July 22, 2003

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Stats: 3,218 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (3,218)

  • hunterjt13
    August 14, 2011
    hunterjt13
    Various meth addicts do various cruel shit.
    This film is full of stylistic gimmicks: every time a character takes a hit of meth, there is a frenetic special effect, and it is edited so that there rarely is a shot that lasts over three seconds. I'm sure that this might be what it... read more's like to be on meth, but ultimately these gimmicks don't make a film. When I wrote my first sentence, a story synopsis, I didn't know what to write because there isn't a fluid narrative. Additionally, there is not a signal likable character in the film; Jason Schwartzman's character could pass for a hero, but early in the film he handcuffs his naked girlfriend to a bed and blinds and gags her with duct tape - not exactly Atticus Finch. You might say that as a drug film, there shouldn't be any likable characters, but they should at least be interesting or trying to be likable. I think Trainspotting is a good film for comparison. The film basically opens with Renton trying to quit heroin. Of course, he doesn't, but it immediately begins with an admirable goal, one with which we can sympathize. There isn't even the prospect of quitting; even the cops pursuing the addicts are on meth.
    Overall, the gimmicks that fill this film can do nothing to counter its many glaring flaws.
  • CrookedlittleB33
    June 4, 2010
    CrookedlittleB33
    What a ride, and I finally got around to watching it. Filled with interesting, complex and totally strung out characters...just going on with their everyday lives. Pretty intriguing flick.
  • matertenebraum
    December 27, 2009
    matertenebraum
    This film was great! Many people have compared it to Requiem for a Dream, however I preferred this movie (Because Brittany Murphy is on it). Requiem accurately depicted drug addiction and how low some people would sink for their next hit. It was a very depressing and powerful mov... read moreie, 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
  • ythelastman89
    November 17, 2009
    ythelastman89
    Wow, it does for cocaine what Trainspotting and Requiem for a Dream did for Heroin. It has a lot of eye-opening scenarios that seem like they are all too real. John Leguizamo and Brittany Murphy just really did a great job in this, they came off as the craziest couple. The story ... read morewas simple, yet really fun and entertaining, without losing it's sense of purpose.
  • SirPant
    September 24, 2009
    SirPant
    I didn?t know much about this before I watched it and it turned out to be a nice surprise! A great little film with a pretty good cast!
  • djdemersseman
    November 14, 2008
    djdemersseman
    Despite its wackiness, it wasn't particularly funny. I should've known from the inclusion of John Leguizamo that that would be the case, but I digress. It was worth it to see Jason Schwartzman and Patrick Fugit; Brittany Murphy wasn't too bad either.
  • Stinger839
    August 15, 2008
    Stinger839
    It's been three years since I last screened this movie, so watching it last night and reflecting upon all the horror movies I've been watching, I realize that I've been letting too many movies get away with sloppy scripts. As SPUN demonstrates, a great script is easily achievable... read more if there is any talent behind the effort. This film is more humorous to me now that I've seen the shock moments in the past, and can now view the film more objectively. Rourke is insansely awesome in this role, so much so that when I saw it first 3 years ago, I did not recognize him until the credits rolled. All the acting is top notch here. I really don't know who Brittany Murphy is other than she gets alot of press attention and people say she is overrated as an actress; I disagree based on her performance in this, if she is atrocious at other roles, at least she has "crankhead" to fall back on. Love the cinematography style, the realistic bent of the story and characters.
    One has to have thick skin not to be weirded out be this movie; it is, after all, a portrait of meth addicts, and that world accurately translated could never be pretty. Also, the score by Billy Corgan is amazing with special mention of Corgan's band Zwan covering "The Number of the Beast" acoustically, which is the title credits theme. Just a great film, will cause me to relieve some inferior pieces of unjustifiable stars.

    "So Fucked Up" highlight:
    girl tied to bed for days listening to loud CD player skipping
  • puffchunk
    September 24, 2007
    puffchunk
    Pretty dumb.
  • tsigur
    July 30, 2007
    tsigur
    Why did I have to watch Mena Suvari taking a shit? And why was I turned on?
  • MidnightMadwoman
    July 15, 2007
    MidnightMadwoman
    This movie was crazier and less enjoyable than I expected. It didn't really go anywhere, but maybe that was the point. The characters were all trapped in thier inert destructive quirkiness, wallowing in neglect. Ugh. Almost totally devoid of humour and made me want to take a show... read moreer. I liked The Salton Sea a lot more than this- it went somewhere, ever so covertly. This movie is like a lump of mush. It's amusing, but still mush.

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Critic Reviews

Geoff Pevere
May 9, 2003
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

It never quite convinces you this is anything but a fashion shoot. Full Review

Rick Groen
May 9, 2003
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

A placebo of a film. Full Review

Terry Lawson
April 25, 2003
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Ultimately, Spun has no more substance than American Pie II.

Jeff Strickler
April 24, 2003
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

This drug drama has enough drugs to stock a hospital but precious little in the way of drama. Full Review

Bill Muller
April 4, 2003
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic

A loud, disorderly descent into narcissism, a movie so in love with itself that its gaze rarely leaves the mirror.

Roger Ebert
April 4, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie is like the low-rent, road show version of those serious drug movies where everybody is macho and deadly. Full Review

Philip Wuntch
April 3, 2003
Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News

This movie is less than zero. Full Review

Loren King
April 3, 2003
Loren King, Chicago Tribune

[Akerlund] has effectively created a head-spinning, flesh-crawling milieu all his own, but Spun is ultimately short on substance and long on style. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
March 28, 2003
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Ultimately, plot complication and freneticism can't distract us from noticing that the movie has no insights, no point, no urgency and no importance. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
March 28, 2003
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

Mistakes flash for cleverness.

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Spun Trivia

  • Which of the following movies was not spun off of a Saturday Night Live sketch?  Answer »
  • Ross,The Cook,Spider Mike, Cookie & Frisbee are all characters from what movie??(2002)   Answer »
  • What was the animals name who spun webs in barn doorways to save the pig's life?  Answer »
  • in charlotte's web b4 she died what was the last word(s) she spun into her web  Answer »
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