Review of Snow Angels (2007) by Anders J — 16 Sep 2008

Nate: "Yesterday's history, tomorrow's a mystery, and today is a gift. That's why its called the present.".

Director/screenwriter David Gordon Green adapts Stewart O'Nan's popular novel to the screen in this feature, which tells the parallel tales of a teenager named Arthur (Michael Angarano) and his onetime babysitter Annie (Kate Beckinsale) -- whose turbulent relationship with her estranged husband, Glenn (Sam Rockwell), leads the small-town waitress down a troubled path. Arthur is a high-school student from a dysfunctional family, and does everything in his power to avoid hanging around the house while mom and dad quarrel. When he's not practicing his trombone and performing with the high-school marching band, Arthur can usually be found bussing tables at the local Chinese restaurant and flirting with older waitress Annie. Annie used to be Arthur's babysitter, and is currently struggling to separate from her former high-school sweetheart, Glenn. But being a single mother isn't easy, especially since the troubled Glenn wants nothing more than to clean up his act and reunite his family.

Back at school, Arthur and pretty classmate Lila (Olivia Thirlby) have been bonding over their mutual love for all things geeky. Though the casual friendship shows promise of evolving into something more when Lila expresses her true feelings for Arthur, he can't help but becoming distracted by his chaotic family life: his father is moving out of the family home, and his mother is doing everything in her power to maintain some semblance of normalcy. Realizing that happiness is fleeting as his family becomes shattered and Annie experiences a series of distressing encounters with Glenn, Arthur gradually begins to fall for Lisa despite his growing cynicism concerning long-term relationships. Later, on a cold winter morning, Glenn and Annie's past catches up with them in a blinding flash, and the lives of everyone they know are suddenly and irrevocably changed.

A truly heartfelt film that shook me straight to the bone. The main reason I bought it on DVD is because Sam Rockwell's in it, who is becoming one of my favorite underrated actors ever and Kate Beckinsale starring in a film where she won't wear a tight spandex dominatrix outfit and actually gonna give it all in an intense dramatic role, I mean who wouldn't want that?

I can think of one word to describe this film: sad. While watching it, you immediately get the sad, melancholic and depressing mood that has beset this film and you won't find yourself amused throughout the duration of the film. The story is tragic and heartbreaking, that was already established in the novel. Top to that you have David Gordon Green's sensational screenplay transition and the leads' immense acting and you get leaking tear ducts. This film is a study of character and relationship from start to finish. What happens in the beginning of the second act will be an essential plot device to the film which will lead to the most tragic, depressing climax ever.

David Gordon Green's sensational screenplay already merits a high rating to me but the beauty of the film doesn't stop there. The acting from leads Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell can only be described as intense. Sam Rockwell, who continues to impress the audience with his underrated performances in his previous films does it yet again in Snow Angels as unstable ex-husband to Kate's character Annie. This dude really got the acting chops in his blood and only a few people actually recognizes this force of nature. I just hope that his upcoming film Choke will finally earn him some of those gold shiny bald trophies. Kate Beckinsale on the other hand, with the absence of the dominatrix outfit, surprisingly gets the job done here. She nails the role from start to finish and I think this is her best work she's ever done. An impressive 180-degree turn for her as an actress and I really do hope she won't quit making intense drama epics like these.

Snow Angels is a story so sad you will lose your appetite for popcorn. So I suggest instead of popcorn & drinks, you bring a handkerchief and a bucket so you can cry your hearts out.

5/5.