Soda Springs

(2012) Soda Springs DRAMA

Although, this film has a happy ending, I still have to give this film a respectable thumbs down, since the events regarding the crucial automobile accident contradicts what's revealed later. The overall experience plays like a made for TV movie or like a "Sunday Afternoon Special" focusing on actor, Jay Pickett (who also co-wrote the movie as well) plays Eden who's life comes tumbling down after being involved in an automobile accident that killed some people. Then the real movie starts once he's being let out early because of good behavior, and because of overcrowding. At first, viewers assumed that he's 100 percent guilty for that may not be the case. And as he's attempting to make things right, it is soon revealed that he also happens to have a son. Strictly by the book movie, which may not be bad had I not seen so much of this kind of movie theme before.

Wonderful movie. Loved the Western scenery and the story of second chances and redemption. Marvelous casting was a treat against a sound track of genuine music. We thoroughly enjoyed Soda Springs. Not a lot of movies command a second or third watching, but this one does. The modern Western still conveys the timeless virtues of hard work and personal sacrifice for others. It feels human and real. Soda Springs unwinds a story without giving it all away upfront. It's the rare movie that successfully manages that unpredictability that makes you reconsider all that went before in a new light. Soda Springs lets the story unfold so that you care about the destination.

The cinematography and directing are first rate without being self- conscious or obtrusive.

Actors are uniformly excellent and included a couple of personal favorites, Tom Skerritt and Victoria Pratt. Skerritt commands the screen with quiet dialog. Victoria is both approachable and gorgeous in her denim clad small town persona. Star and co-screenwriter Jay Pickett plays the protagonist in a quiet, determined and ultimately winning fashion. Smaller roles feature effective newcomers like Hollis Welsh and established veterans including the perfect Patty McCormack.

The Western theme carries over in a soundtrack dosed with some great, fresh Alt Country with a touch of Western Swing. I knew none of the music going in but loved the music and its compliment to the mood and high, lonesome Idaho scenery. Steve Fulton, Mickey and the Motorcars, and Travis Ward & Hillfolk Noir are among those featured.

It's easy to see why this was an award winner in film festivals like Breckenridge, Sun Valley and Louisville. Soda Springs is engaging, personal and meaningful. It stuck with me far longer than many big dollar, big star productions. Soda Springs is highly recommended.

A man goes to jail for a fatal drunk driving accident. Years later, he discovers that he will be released in two hours with no money or prospects. He goes to his mother's house (in the same town as of the accident) and she doesn't recognize him for a second. Didn't she ever visit him?

Anyway, he is persona non grata due to the vehicular homicide and also because of his reputation as a womanizer. He runs into his ex wife and others who present some challenging situations. The cops try to hassle him and fists are thrown a couple of times throughout the film.

I just read a review saying this was a nice, clean film. LOL. So we have drunk driving/vehicular homicide, cheating/philandering, and physical fights but someone drew the line at the two or three "bad" words uttered in this film and decided to overdub them with "cleaner" words. I guess that makes it a clean, Hallmark-ish kind of film?

Anyway, the acting isn't bad, it's just a blah, slow film of a man in a very white town that is unnecessarily censored for "bad" language.

Soda Springs is a movie I will want to watch many times. I'm always a Tom Skerrit fan, but I saw many more nuances in his role in this film than ever before. Jay Pickett was only vaguely familiar to me, but I will definitely be looking for him in more films. Initially I wanted to see the movie to enjoy glimpses of familiar Idaho scenes, but the sincerity and increasing depth of the drama captivated my imagination and leaves me wanting to watch this movie again and again.

The theme I took from the movie was the work and patience required in rebuilding a life - work wasn't enough, patience alone wasn't enough - and everyone concerned had to contribute their own work and patience. How do you make work and patience and more work and patience exciting to an audience? It took a lot of skill and courage on the part of everyone who made this film! Through unexpected characters and careful pacing I sensed and then shared the frustration of the main character as he had to wrestle his life and reputation from the backbiters in his hometown.

The casting was well done and the locations were wonderful. I had expected to be pulled out of the story as I recognized familiar places, but instead that just added to the connection I felt with the characters. I still want my husband to watch Soda Springs so he can tell me if that pick-up Pickett drives is the same make as one we see around New Plymouth. It all felt so real to me that I can still feel the dust of the baseball diamond, squint into the bright sunlight and smell the inside of the feed store.

That feeling of connection is part of the reason Soda Springs lingers in my mind so long after watching it. It is also the reason I'm not at all surprised to hear of the awards this movie is attracting.

I originally ordered this movie just to see an old classmate (Jay Pickett) act - boy did I get a surprise! I also expected to be drawn into the familiar scenery of where we grew up, but instead was drawn into the storyline so far that I forgot to watch the scenery! The storyline of redemption is one that is done frequently, but those of us that grew up in small towns and on farms know that it works differently there. The story is well-told and well paced, with beautiful Idaho scenery in the background. It truly deserves and has earned all of the film awards that it has gotten - and many more! It is a wonderful family story, and I will be sure that my 12 yr old and 7 yr old watch it.