Review of Snow Cake (2006) by Walter M — 17 Jun 2008

[font=Century Gothic]In "Snow Cake," Alex(Alan Rickman) is stopping at a truck stop on the way to Winnipeg when he is joined at his table by Vivienne(Emily Hampshire), a talkative young woman, and later in his car as a hitchhiker, even though Alex tells her that he has killed a man.(I'm sorry but wasn't somebody supposed to warn her not to get in a car with a strange man?)[/font].

[font=Century Gothic]Later, Alex makes a point to visit her mother(Sigourney Weaver) whose autism gives her a tenuous link to the real world. While originally only wanting to spend a brief time with her, Alex instead agrees to wait until Tuesday to leave in order to make arrangements and to put out the garbage...[/font].

[font=Century Gothic]Blessed with a satisfyingly offbeat ending and fine performances(especially Sigourney Weaver), "Snow Cake" is a competent movie about redemption and forgiveness, avoiding the temptation to assign a character to be the villain.(For example, Alex has killed a man but is not evil.) Using the setting of a small town, a good case is made for everybody having their own unique way to celebrate life. At the same time, the movie is too long, which allows for a certain repetitiveness to creep in especially regarding Alex's past. More than one character says that he has to unburden himself.(Not so much for himself, but for the audience, it seems.)[/font].

[font=Century Gothic]Note: Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver were also in "Galaxy Quest." Callum Keith Rennie and Carrie-Anne Moss were also in "Memento." Did I leave anybody out?[/font].