Spun is populated by a plethora of actors who have given memorable performances…in other movies. Jason Schwartzman (the eccentrically appealing Max Fischer in Rushmore) stars as Ross, a directionless speed freak who hooks up with some other directionless speed freaks, including Nikki (Brittany Murphy of 8 Mile and the current Just Married), Spider Mike (John Leguizamo), Cookie (Mena Suvari), Frisbee (Patrick Fugit, the boy reporter in Almost Famous) and The Cook (Mickey Rourke). Unfortunately, caricatures, not characters, abound here.



The plot, such as it is, centers on Ross’ driving The Cook and Nikki around on various errands, as people do drugs, beat each other up, do more drugs, yell and slam doors, do still more drugs, blow things up, come to shallow conclusions about their wasted lives, and surprise, do more drugs. Spun takes as its subject the insular and self‑destructive world of drug addiction, but it doesn’t ever decide if it’s a comedy or an edgy morality tale, and ultimately misfires in all directions.



Director Jonas Akerlund, in an attempt to convey the meth addict’s physical and aural experiences, fills Spun with hyper-fast cutting, huge close-ups, intensely loud sound effects, ellipses and other twitchy editing tricks. The end result is more annoying than mesmerizing, and may make viewers want to reach for a different kind of drug: aspirin.

As The Cook—who actually concocts the substance that he and everyone else then snorts or shoots up—Mickey Rourke seems a pale echo of his past, more intense creations. But he does engage in a fair amount of “meth-od” acting (and what better film?). Spun also features a pleasant but not terribly memorable soundtrack by Billy Corgan, formerly of The Smashing Pumpkins.



It’s all about getting high, but Spun is a bummer.