Review of Snow Angels (2007) by Damion R — 19 Dec 2010

"Snow Angels" is a small, slight indie about the incredibly depressing lives of a number of people in a small, unnamed snowy, cold town (filmed entirely in Nova Scotia).

As numerous stories of infidelity, divorce, longing, lonliness, new love and death all interweave, despite very effective performances by great actors, "Snow Angels" is quite frankly just emotionally exhuasting.

Kate Beckinsale is great as a woman dealing with a loser drunk husband who then faces a life-changing tragedy. Under-appreciated Sam Rockwell is excellent as said husband. Jeannetta Arnette, who you certainly would know by seeing her but never by her name, is excellent as a mother who is left by a husband who doesn't know what he wants. Griffin Dunne is great as the man who walks away, only to come back. Even the usual unusual and goofy Amy Sedaris plays dramatic with verve here. And Connor Paolo, best known for "Gossip Girl," has an effective turn in this film as a friend of Arthur.

However, the most memorable performance of this film is Michael Angarano, best known for his role on "Will & Grace," who plays Arthur...a young man who is both dealing with his parents' marriage as it falls apart and his own emotional awakening when he catches the eye of the young Lily(Olivia Thirlby).

However, despite all these solid showings, the pile-up of overly sad storylines is enough to make anyone roll their eyes and need a drink. With one terrible twist after another, even Arthur's burgeoining love is not enough to make you smile and fill you with any hope for these people. If you are in anyway unhappy, leave this one aside if you want something uplifiting. This film is so deep in depression, it's bound to ruin anyone's day, as just when you think these people's lives couldn't get any worse, the film's final act descends and you'll wish you had not finished your bottle of wine.