'Spun' is a mixed bag, it has both good and bad scenes and performances. Ultimately I was unsatisfied, but it has enough going for it to make it worth watching. I had two main problems with it. The first was stylistically. Akerlund uses Aronofsky's 'Requiem For A Dream' closeups/fast cuts over and over again until you're ready to scream "enough already!". Not only is this hijacking unoriginal and repetitive, it wasn't even that great a device in the first place. Despite 'Spun' owing a huge visual debt to 'Requiem For A Dream' I preferred it - flaws and all - because it lacks Aronofsky's simplistic ant-drugs propaganda. 'Spun' just shows some f*cked up people doing f*cked up things and allows the audience to make its own judgements. Basically this isn't a message movie, it's strictly played for laughs. Now I don't mind that in itself, but what I found grating was the lack of consistency in the tone. Most of the movie is very black comedy ala 'Drugstore Cowboy, 'Trainspotting', 'Jesus' Son', but every now and again there's silly cartoonish slapstick scenes and it just doesn't work for me. The real low points are the TV cops played by Peter Stomare and Alexis Arquette and the ridiculous animated interludes. The best things about 'Spun' are the performances by Jason Schwartzman (Ross), Brittany Murphy (Nikki), John Leguizamo (Spider Mike), and especially, Mickey Rourke ("The Cook"). Once again Rourke shines in a so-so movie (see also 'Once Upon A Time In Mexico'). We even get to see him briefly reunite with his 'The Pope Of Greenwich Village' co-star Eric Roberts, though sadly it's only one scene, and Roberts is given very little to do. (Mena Suvari is also wasted in the movie - no pun intended!) So, there you have it. If you're looking for characters with depth and any insight into meth addicts you'll be disappointed, but if you're looking for a few laughs you'll be entertained for the most part. A re-edit and some more effort put into the script could have greatly improved 'Spun'. As it is it's an uneven but enjoyable experience.