Michael Ledo
The film is slow moving. Eden Jackson (Jay Pickett) has spent 8 years in prison for vehicular homicide. He is surprised at his release as is everyone else. Apparently in Oregon they release prisoners at random. He returns home to a mother (Patty McCormack) that still loves him, but a community that has some people who wish Eden would rot in prison.Eden (symbolic for new beginning) keeps his prison Bible, but this is not really a "faith based" film. He has memories of that fateful night, playing at the local honky-tonk and cheating on his wife Pam (Miranda Frigon). Pam gets even by not visiting Eden in prison and marrying Larry (Michael Bowen) the town's biggest A-Hole.Larry controls the sheriff (Duane Stephens) and doesn't like Eden hanging around, partly because he uses annoying phrases such as "it is what it is." Shelly (Victoria Pratt) the pretty blond who owns the feed store, needs some help. It normally isn't hard to figure out where this drama is headed as Jay Pickett subs for Patrick Swayze. I was pleasantly surprised by the twists the film takes in this unlikely drama about redemption.4 stars for fans of "Lifetime" style films.No f-bombs, but some adult language (S-word, P-word, AH-word, SOB), implied sex, no nudity (girl in bra-Whitnie Mauney) Brief appearances by Tom Skerritt as the dad.
forestelves
This movie makes no sense until the last ten minutes. Then it becomes apparent Eden took a fall to protect the two tiny children of the woman who was behind the wheel. Her grandfather(?) knew he was getting out of prison, didn't just appear with horses. This same elder just happens to be there again when he gets out of jail, in front of the Masonic temple. The movie theme is about keeping secrets, when to tell the absolute truth would destroy two innocent children's lives. Look for Masonic symbols, you may see them, especially around the Sheriff. The movie Tombstone comes to mind as another Masonic movie, but without the obvious message Soda Springs tells so well, of a fundamentally decent man who sacrifices a good part of his life to protect women and children.
jr-339-124628
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.
Tony Heck
"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.
AD
