tlavideo.com

just a reviewer wrote on 07/06/2010:

For what has, to me, turned out to be a good little film that just could NOT develop a following, it's surprising how often I pull it from my quite large DVD collection and take it for a "Spin." From a gay romantic angle (of much interest to me), it is definitely no "Just A Question Of Love" or "Shelter" or even "Boy Culture." No, romance is not the main focus of this little work. What we have, instead, is the individual performance of each ensemble player lifting this production to a sum which is more than a total of its (well, actually their) parts. And, frankly, this is unexpected since, with the exception of Heather Goldenhersh (Rachel), the remainder of our lead cast of five have little to show in the way of both pre- and follow on starring-in work. Be that as it may, this cast "clicked" in their work as individual characters and in their interplay with one another.

My positive review at this late date won't do anything particularly worthwhile for this film and its place in movie history (yes, I'm bad for not acting sooner). BUT......if you're not a homophobe (look it up), and are considering a film rental or a new/used purchase, I'd say you probably won't go wrong giving it a try (plus I'd predict a not long availability life for this DVD in future).

PS: As two other Customer Reviewers have mentioned, the DVD Special Features "Director/Writers Commentary" is both revealing and witty. In it you will learn, for example, how puzzling it was to set up the male/male anal sex, lovemaking scene. Apparently no one on set seemed to know (yeah, sure) a suitable "alignment" for the "top" and "bottom actors. The resulting face-to-face (missionary), legs fully extended position which was shot might have been more ascetically (or Ratings) acceptable, but....come on guys....having the bottom's legs at least bent at the knees, or even better, locked at the ankles over the top's backside, would have at least lent some realism. Still, can't say this shot's outcome isn't romantic; it is that.

life00001@hotmail.com wrote on 04/10/2006:

This movie is great. I was very much into it until the end. What Ted is left alone. I thought Ted was going to be with Jonah after Ted saw himself as he really was. The ending was very upsetting for me who thought that the actors were wonderful and the movie was great as a whole.

Netguy wrote on 11/11/2002:

The Movie:

Featuring razor sharp, biting dialogue (written by Amy Sohn) and tightly directed by Jamie Yerkes, “Spin The Bottle” tells the story of five childhood friends reuniting for the first time after years of pent up secrets, grudges and desires that all come to a head one evening after the teenage game of the same name.

From the onset you know something’s amiss when Ted (Mitchell Riggs) and Bev (Kim Winter) arrive at the camp where they spent their days with their childhood buddies and their host Jonah (Holter Graham) or no one else appears to be around. Their uneasy about being there until Alex (Jessica Faller) appears and the chain of events begin to unfold. Rounding out the cast is a funny and hip Rachel (Heather Goldenhersch).

As the weekend progresses mind games are played, sexual tensions arise and its not until the final frames that the past is revealed and the weekend explodes. An enjoyable film with a well acted and written cast. There were a few times the dialogue was a bit over the top and a bit mean spirited but I guess in light of the situations it was well deserved. With friends like these who needs enemies! A nice directorial debut from Jamie Yerkes.



The DVD

VIDEO: The dvd is presented in Anamorphic 16:9 Widescreen. Sharpness and detail were generally very good with only some flaws here and there. Color was natural and the transfer was generally good.

SOUND: The film is presented in Dolby stereo in English and was fine throughout.

EXTRAS:

There is a commentary track with the director Jamie Yerkes and the writer Amy Sohn that I found enjoyable. It’s nice to see an independent film get made and how for $20k it took shape, actors were chosen, scenes filmed, and choices made.

Rounding out the DVD are a theatrical trailer, cast and crew bios and an award winning short film by Jamie Yerkes entitled, “Cowboy Jesus” which was interesting in itself with a different take on the bible.

My Final Thoughts:

“Spin The Bottle” might not suit everyone’s tastes but I thought it was a nice character study and enjoyed how the story unfolded over time and the truths and secrets were revealed. Some brief nudity, sexual situations, and sharp dialogue and comes in at 83 minutes. A nice addition to your gay dvd collection.

BigManOut.com (bmo@bigmanout.com) wrote on 06/12/2001:

What would happen if The Big Chill and Dangerous Liaisons had a
torrid 3-way with a low budget independent film? They would spawn
Spin The Bottle. Five late 20-something friends reunite at the
lakeside summerhouse where they played together as children. The
friends get together again through a contrived plot device that's not
worth typing about.

Friend #1 Ted (Mitchell Riggs) is as unsure about where he's going
in life (law school,) as he is about who he's going throw life with (his
new fiancée.) Friend #2 Bev (Kim Winter) is the straight-laced girl
next door that Ted is betrothed to. Friend #3 Alex (Jessica Faller) is
bitchy, sexy and up to no good from the word go! Friend #4 Rachel
(Heather Goldenhersh) is quirky, vulnerable, funny, warm and
charmingly self-abasing. If you're gay, you were friends with this girl
in high school. If you still don't get what I'm saying here, rent any
Joan Cusack movie and you'll find a lightbulb over your head before
you finish your popcorn. Friend #5 Jonah (Holter Graham) was the
childhood runt, now all grownup hunk and host of the reunion.

I must admit that this film is a bit slow in the beginning, but if your like
me you'll get some stuff done as you wait for it to get going. By the
time I was done paying bills, balancing my checkbook, and finding
out once & for all, how many licks it takes to get to the center of a
Tootsie Pop, the move required my full attention. You take five
childhood friends, a lot of drinking, one of the empties, and what
might they do to pass the time when the night air is as full of stars as
it is sexual tension? If you haven't guessed yet, scroll up to read the
title of this movie again.

Long story short, bottles get spun, people get kissed, and some get
a lot more than that! I won't say more then that about the plot,
because there actually is one here to give a way. What two things
stand out in this flick, other than the all so satisfying ending, I'm not
telling you about? Well the #1 standout, is the nail on the head,
ringing way too true performance of Heather Goldenhersh. Heather if
you happen to see this review you have to know I am so feeling you
girl, drop me a line, we'll hang out, grab some Thai food, and hit a
club to scope some guys. The #2 standout thing about Spin The
Bottle, is the smoldering performance of Holter Graham. He delivers
all the goods to make this film's climax do just that! Speaking of
that… um Heather you wouldn't happen to have Holter's number
would you?

Kevin Williams, BigManOut.com

William B (wiliamb@gte.net) wrote on 04/09/2001:

This was a well-acted movie, but each step of he way, I could predict what was coming next. However, even that was acceptable, but from the very beginning it was Ted who was seeing himself for who he really was and to have him dismissed as just naive over and over again just was not acceptable. The ending was very unsatisfying.