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Beer for My Horses Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
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Snow Angels
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MPAA RATING: R for language, some violent content, brief sexuality and drug use
Starring Sam Rockwell, Kate Beckinsale, Michael Angarano, Griffin Dunne, Amy Sedaris, and Olivia Thirlby
A story of love lost and found in a small town, Snow Angels is a heartrending portrayal of three couples in various stages of life orbiting around each other in search of connection and meaning. An unexpected act of violence disrupts the lives of these intertwined couples and reveals the profound moments in which they each realize how precarious and remarkable life can be. High-school student Arthur plays trombone in the marching band, busses tables at the local Chinese restaurant, and avoids his squabbling parents. At work, he flirts with Annie, who used to be his babysitter. Annie is trying to build a new life for herself and her daughter after splitting with high-school sweetheart Glenn. A man with a troubled past, Glenn hopes to make a new start by getting a job and reconnecting with his family. At school, Arthur meets a pretty girl, Lila, who is just as nerdy as he is, and they quickly develop a crush on one another. Though Lila makes her feelings for Arthur painfully obvious, Arthur is reluctant to accept her advances as he watches his father move out of the family home while his mother struggles to keep things together. Determined to find happiness, Arthur begins to fall for the irresistible Lila, even as he witnesses Annie and Glenn tear one another apart in a series of distressing encounters that occur at the same time as his parents begin separate lives. Then, on a cold winter morning, Glenn and Annie's past catches up with their future. In one shocking moment, all of the pain and struggle comes to a screeching halt. For them, and for everyone who knows them, nothing will ever be the same. (Warner Independent Pictures)
| GENRE(S): | Drama |
| WRITTEN BY: | David Gordon Green |
| DIRECTED BY: | David Gordon Green |
| RELEASE DATE: |
DVD: September 16, 2008 Theatrical: March 7, 2008 |
| RUNNING TIME: | 106 minutes, Color |
| ORIGIN: | USA |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The average user rating for this movie is 7.5 (out of 10) based on 8 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Tom M. gave it an8:
Occasionally one comes across a flick that throughout its viewing it is difficult to believe that you are actually watching a film, that is, the portrayals and details of the storyline are so real it stuns. Snow Angels is such a film. Every character and every cast member shine in this incredibly human story, essentially about two couples--one, somewhat seasoned but estranged and trapped by irredeemable despair; the other, coming of age and enheartened by the discovery and hope of first love. Kate Beckinsale, as the struggling lead character, and Michael Angarano, as the grappling teenager, are absolutely perfect, as is Sam Rockwood, playing the reborn and suicidal ex-husband. Incidentally, Rockwood's portrayal of a drunk stumbling violently through scene after scene is about as masterful a performance as you'll ever want to see. The man is truly gifted. The pacing of the film is a bit disorienting at first, with parallel and allied scenes threatening to overwhelm; but, gradually the effect cooks, adding to the starkness of it all.
Jay H. gave it a7:
Very believably done, exceptionally well written. The performances are excellent and convincing. Fine direction. Fine film, although it can be a bit of a downer.
Chad S. gave it a10:
Once when Arthur(Michael Angarano) was just a boy, he spied on his babysitter in the shower. Even though Lila(Olivia Thirlby) occupies the left side of Arthur's bed, she will never replace the babysitter in his heart. Back in the day, Annie(Kate Beckinsale) didn't walk, she floated up and down the sidewalks of her small New England town. Years later, it turns out that Annie was mortal, after all. Arthur works with his former babysitter at a Chinese restaurant. You've seen Annie's type before. She's the incongruous knockout ringing up your groceries at the checkout line in your supermarket, or she might be the "sandwich artist" asking you if "...you want the meal." These women have a story. A hard-luck story. It usually involves marrying the wrong guy, and having the wrong guy's child. That's Annie's story. That's why she's waiting on tables. In "Snow Angels", we see both: the fruition of young love, and the disintegration of a love gone to seed. With a little more time, Arthur's idealized ardor for Annie might've come full circle. It would've been a travesty, but by no means, a tragedy, given the context of what happens. "Snow Angels" is a sad movie, but sometimes sad movies say so much.
Michael E. gave it a6:
Well-made in all respects,with honesty and a startling turn from Sam Rockwell to recommend it, but it just screams "indie movie" and the story seems to made up entirely out of cliches from the "things that will get your movie into Sundance" checklist. Storywise there are no real surprises, and if the ending isn't obvious from the first act, it becomes jarringly so about halfway through.
Elizabeth C. gave it a5:
This film does feature some good naturalistic acting by Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell, a good sense of place and the director has promise. Yet I found that I couldn't get involved with the characters, and I was bored despite the melodramatic plot. The fault is with the writing, which is very disjointed as it jumps from character to character. I also found the rather generic teenage romance to be superfluous and distracting from the main plot.
Joe Z. gave it a10:
Sam Rockwell brings to the screen a very believable devastation of the heart. His acting is the best yet. It is not a happy story but the experience of true sadness has never been so well performed by this cast of characters.
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