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.

I don't doubt that every day life in a small town in Southwestern Idaho is slow, but that doesn't mean I want to watch a movie of this depicted. The movie was supposed to be about a good man who made a mistake and needed redemption, but there is no indication that he was ever a good man. He had a reputation as a party guy and he tried to cheat on his wife.Having said that, the photography was nice. There aren't too many movies filmed in Idaho. I have always found it strange that Country-Western music almost never comes from "country" areas outside the South. Yet in this picture you see guys making country music, minus the accent. If there really are guys like this making such music in non-Southern places, why don't they make it to Nashville? This part of Idaho is both "country" and "Western." It seems that in real life the lead actor is considerably older than what he was playing. He is in his early 50's. I assumed he was supposed to be in his late 30's in the movie.I got a real kick out of seeing the bad boy played by Michael Bowen. He played the same character in Valley Girl, opposite Nicholas Cage in 1983.There was virtually no religion or God injected into this story. The guy lives in a small town, and one cop mentions church, but you never see anyone going to one. I think the main guy does go back to his jail cell to retrieve his Bible. They clearly decided not to go in that direction.I don't actually blame him for returning to his home town. Where else are you going to go, like his mother said. Home is home, even when you screw up.I don't think he ever apologizes to his wife for anything. If he did, it wasn't memorable.This picture did have redeeming qualities, not enough to save it from the bargain bin at Walmart.What I really needed to see was a little more emotion from people. There is one scene where the main guy breaks down just for a second, but it was cut short. Let it out man! Let's make a movie about real people. Even the strong, silent cowboy types let go once in a while.

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.

I'm not sure I can find any flaws in this movie. The acting was very good, the direction by Michael Feifer was superb. The storyline was excellent, and unlike many indie movies I watch these days, it actually had a real ending, along with a few surprise twists. The characters were interesting and likable, and the chemistry between them was believable and grabbed my attention. The Idaho scenery was stunning. And the haunting soundtrack throughout was eerily mood-evoking. Possibly the only fault I could find was that I was left wondering for 38 minutes into the movie how long Eden had been in prison. But perhaps that was by design. The song Eden sang at the end was slightly corny, but then... for an amateur redneck performing at the local honkey tonk, it was about what you'd expect, I suppose. I loved Henry Darrow's role (am I the only one who remembers Manolito from The High Chapparal series in the late 60's?), and although his scenes were brief, his presence was richly felt. I don't give 10 stars lightly, but this one definitely deserved it, IMO.