Plot: What’s it about?
A scenic, isolated lodge used to be home to five young kids, as they played around and had fun all summer long within the area. But now those kids have turned into young adults and after the years have passed, they will return to the lodge, for a reunion of sorts. Of course, the kids have changed in some respects, but have also remained the same and maybe, just maybe this lodge will bring back some of the old, lost character traits in them. Bev (Kim Winter) and Ted (Mitchell Riggs) were sweethearts back then and now, they’re engaged and close to walking down the aisle, a massive step indeed. But if their love has lasted this long, then it should be strong enough to last forever, right? Rachel (Heather Goldenhersh) hasn’t changed much either, as she still has serious issues with guys, as in she has to have one or she snaps. Also present is Alex (Jessica Faller), who remains the ever present bitch, although she has the looks and body to back up her persona. The most changed is Jonah (Holter Graham), who used to be the runt of their litter of friends, but now stands as a handsome, studly chap. A lot will happen in the span of this reunion, but when all is said and done, who will be changed forever?
I could never track down this movie before, but had wanted to see it, so I glad to finally have the chance to check it out. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but since the premise had promise and I’d some good reviews, I had decent hopes for Spin The Bottle. Of course, some of these reunion type flicks turn out to be miserable, but some are very insightful and I was hoping this one would be more like the latter, to be sure. In the end, this wasn’t the best film of this kind I’ve seen, but it is a good one and a movie I can easily recommend. The cast is pretty much unknowns and the budget is slim, but the flick turns out very well and defies those limitations. The writing is much better than expected and that’s good news, as the cast is pretty new and as such, the better the source material, the better in terms of their performances. I wasn’t able to relate to much of the stuff found within the film, but it was well made and very well written, which makes it worth a look. I am very pleased with First Run Features’ disc here, as it offers a solid overall treatment, with some nice bells & whistles also. If you’re at all interested in this film, I recommend you give this disc a rental and if you like it, make sure to spin the included audio commentary track as well.
This film uses a cast full of lesser known performers, but I was very impressed with the performances, which were solid indeed. Of course, the actors had some excellent material to work with, thanks to the screenplay by Amy Sohn, which was based on director Jamie Yerkes’ original story pitch. This film more than proves that you don’t need name talent to create a memorable picture, as these pretty inexperienced unknowns more than handle themselves at all times. Although all of the performers seem in fine form here, I think the standout turn comes from Heather Goldenhersh, who really shines here. I’ve seen a couple of other projects with her involved and liked her work, but she is at her best here, in what was only her second feature film role. I would like to her see in more films very soon, as well as look into her roles that I’ve missed so far. You can also see Goldenhersh in such films as The Great Gatsby, I’m Not Rappaport, and Unconditional Love. The cast here also includes Holter Graham (Maximum Overdrive, The Curse), Kim Winter (One Dog Day), Mitchell Riggs, and Jessica Faller.
Video: How does it look?
Spin The Bottle is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This film was made for under $20,000 and it shows, but this transfer still manages to provide a more than decent presentation. There’s more than a little grain present and I saw a lot of print debris, but this is more than acceptable in the end. The colors look good, flesh tones are natural, and I saw minimal issues in terms of contrast levels. As I said, some of the flaws with the source material force me to lower the score, but this is still a better transfer than I expected.
Audio: How does it sound?
Not much to talk about here, as this movie isn’t too audio driven and as such, the included stereo mix is more than enough. I would liken this to a television broadcast of the film, as the audio sounds good, but lacks the depth we’ve been spoiled within by surround sound mixes. Even so, I think this track is more than adequate in all respects and since it never seems that restrained, I doubt anyone else will be let down either. The music seems to spice up the atmosphere a little, while a few scenes have some presence, in terms of sound effects. The snappy dialogue is clean and easy to understand also, which is good since the film is so reliant upon it. No subtitle options or additional language tracks were included, which won’t please some viewers.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some talent files, the film’s trailer, and a bonus short film called Cowboy Jesus. The main extra however, is an audio commentary track with director Jamie Yerkes and writer Amy Sohn. The two have some interesting comments at times, from the cast to the actual production to the limits when shooting an independent picture. I think fans of this film will like this one a lot, as will those interested in low budget filmmaking.
