Soda Springs

Soda Springs is an uplifting story about second chances and redemption. It is a well acted and beautifully shot film with a couple of good plot twists. Many of the characters in the film are easy to identify with which brings it home in several scenes. It starts slowly and builds nicely. This film won best feature film at the Louisville International Festival of film last fall and just won the audience award at the Sun Valley Film Festival a few weeks ago. That says a lot. The film isn't rated, but, I would guess it's probably PG for those wondering. This is a great little indie film worth seeing.

Although the first 45 minutes of Soda Springs is rather slow and uninspiring lead actor Jay Pickett plays a handsome wild and reckless skirt chaser named Eden Jackson who ends up in prison for causing a senior couples death(s) while driving drunk. But hang in there for the latter half of the film because eventually Eden gets his ($)hit together and he returns home to his mother's farm where she welcomes him with open arms. Unfortunately the townspeople who are fully aware of Eden's reckless behavior are not very happy with his presence and he is treated as if he was the town pariah.

Most unhappy to see Jay Pickett back in town is the local owner of the car dealership named Larry (Michael Bowen) who has married Jay's ex-wife Pam (Miranda Frigon) and they have a son who they are raising.

There are secrets that come to light and if you hang in there for the last 30 minutes of the film it is worth waiting for. It was an unexpected ending and not what I expected at all. Jay Pickett's redemption is about to come full circle in Soda Springs.

I give the film a decent 6 out of 10 rating - the ending is worth hanging in there for.

"Soda Springs" is a Western/Drama about a man looking for redemption and just wanting the chance to proof he can belong again. Right from the start of the film I knew I was in for something special, Eden was a character I immediately attached myself to and no matter what happened in the past I wanted the best for him going forward so I was engaged and set to see it through. Eden isn't the only character in the film that you take notice of right away, every character is well-written and realistic and when you combine that with a terrific story, beautiful landscapes and amazing music you got your self a gem and "Soda Springs" is just that, it's a dramatic triumph. The film tears at your emotions, from happy to sad the film draws you in and never lets up.

There's a lot going on in Eden's life after he returns but to talk too much about the details would only ruin the film for those waiting to see it. This is one of those stories that reminds us why we fell in love with cinema in the first place, sadly you don't get to see many films like "Soda Springs" anymore so when one does show up it's not only a surprise but a joy as well.

The entire cast did a terrific job, Jay Pickett is incredible was Eden and Tom Skerritt gives a powerful performance as his father in a limited role. I can go right through the cast but instead I will just say everyone is fantastic in their roles. If you like a good drama then I highly recommend picking up one of the best films I have seen so far this year, I am confident it will find a huge audience on DVD with strong word of mouth.

Do yourself a favor and make sure you pick this up, you are going to be glad you did. Let me finish by saying Director, Michael Feifer has a talent for telling a good story, my hat goes off to him and I look forward to seeing what he has coming out next.--Patrick Picketts--Videoviews.org

"Lock up your wives and daughters, Eden Jackson's back in town." Eight years after a terrible accident affected a small Idaho town the man responsible returns to start his life over. Almost instantly the town begins to treat him as an outcast and refuses to accept him back to the community. Slowly he begins to win his ex over and secrets start to come out that change the town forever. I have seen a few movies like this (I can't remember the names of them) but it has the feel of a movie like "Pure Country". An exiled resident returns to face his past and meets resistance. You have all seen that movie before so you won't be surprised. This movie is pretty cheesy but it is actually not bad and does have a twist at the end that isn't totally predictable but not unexpected. Without trying to spoil the movie I will let you know that Tom Skerritt is in the movie for about 2 minutes, so if that's why your renting it be warned. Overall, not really a whole lot to say about this movie. Cheesy but an OK movie that many will like. I give it a B.

(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.