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.

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.

"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

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.

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.