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.

Barbara Ray I originally ordered this movie just to see an old classmate (Jay Pickett) act - boy did I get a surprise! I also expected to be drawn into the familiar scenery of where we grew up, but instead was drawn into the storyline so far that I forgot to watch the scenery! The storyline of redemption is one that is done frequently, but those of us that grew up in small towns and on farms know that it works differently there. The story is well-told and well paced, with beautiful Idaho scenery in the background. It truly deserves and has earned all of the film awards that it has gotten - and many more! It is a wonderful family story, and I will be sure that my 12 yr old and 7 yr old watch it.

Lucinda Sutherland Soda Springs is a movie I will want to watch many times. I'm always a Tom Skerrit fan, but I saw many more nuances in his role in this film than ever before. Jay Pickett was only vaguely familiar to me, but I will definitely be looking for him in more films. Initially I wanted to see the movie to enjoy glimpses of familiar Idaho scenes, but the sincerity and increasing depth of the drama captivated my imagination and leaves me wanting to watch this movie again and again.The theme I took from the movie was the work and patience required in rebuilding a life - work wasn't enough, patience alone wasn't enough - and everyone concerned had to contribute their own work and patience. How do you make work and patience and more work and patience exciting to an audience? It took a lot of skill and courage on the part of everyone who made this film! Through unexpected characters and careful pacing I sensed and then shared the frustration of the main character as he had to wrestle his life and reputation from the backbiters in his hometown.The casting was well done and the locations were wonderful. I had expected to be pulled out of the story as I recognized familiar places, but instead that just added to the connection I felt with the characters. I still want my husband to watch Soda Springs so he can tell me if that pick-up Pickett drives is the same make as one we see around New Plymouth. It all felt so real to me that I can still feel the dust of the baseball diamond, squint into the bright sunlight and smell the inside of the feed store.That feeling of connection is part of the reason Soda Springs lingers in my mind so long after watching it. It is also the reason I'm not at all surprised to hear of the awards this movie is attracting.

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.