Snow Angels (2008) Synopsis:
Centers on a small-town waitress (Beckinsale) has suffered through a tumultuous relationship with her estranged husband (Rockwell).
Snow Angels (2008) Movie Review:
My take on David Gordon Green: He is a filmmaker with tremendous soul. The catch is that with each film that soul gets cut into ever diminishing pieces. “George Washington” was pure and just about perfect--a beautiful mosaic of stylish emotions. Soon after that came “All The Real Girls,” a moving story of rural love that fell short in its plotting (Green seemed to be trying to work out how to make a naturalistic romantic story). Then, a few years ago, the gothic thriller “Undertow” exposed Green’s sinister side but it was a shallow-ish venture. Today there's his small-town melodrama “Snow Angels” and that once vibrant soul finds itself muted once again. Muted, yes, but far from silent.
The film is about a high school kid, his babysitter, his babysitter's baby, her jerk of a husband and finally the jerk that she sleeps with to get back at her husband. Playing a woman stuck in a small town and starting a new life sans crazy husband, Kate Beckinsale as the grown up babysitter FINALLY attempts a real performance… playing a real character… in a real movie and, well, I'll give the “Underworld” beauty points for trying, but none for the performance itself as it lacks a certain humanity (her scenes with the baby, ex husband, and booty call are all flat). The trusty indie blade Sam Rockwell eschews his usually wily persona to play a troubled alcoholic that fights to win back his wife. He's become a born again Christian to make things right... which of course does the exact opposite as his new religious views (when coupled with his shotgun) only alienate and embitter the man, especially when he sees her "sinning" on the neighbor. This subplot, in which a selfish and sad man uses religion as a crutch, is Green's most edgy and provocative theme to date. And Rockwell, it should be noted, gives his best and most nuanced performance to date. After "Snow Angels," I really want to see the actor try on similar roles for size because, in addition to a Nicholsonian glimmer, he's got an intriguing bit of darkness behind those crazy eyes. And speaking of actor's I'd like to see more of, a favorite of mine by the name of Nicky Katt appears as that sinner who indulges with Beckinsale in some afternoon delight, only, through this film’s filter is more like afternoon blight. After fending off a relapsed Rockwell that comes storming at the couple, the best (and only funny) line in the movie belongs to Katt: "boy, I'm going to suck up my tailpipe."
Katt's character is just not up for all the drama that comes with her life. Sadly, neither is writer/director Green. He seems to be overly cautious here and the plot, revolving around various sets of relationships, plays off like a Bergman soap opera minus the soap--it's also the indie equivalent to Soderbergh's murder mystery "Bubble." Green fails to go all the way with his tragic sentiments and, most alarmingly, bungles a number of his characters. The teenager played by Michael Angarano, his girlfriend played by Juno’s BFF Olivia Thirlby and the boy’s real father played by Griffin Dunn all lack character development—and in a film that’s ALL about character, that’s a huge setback. The boy, along with the rest of the cast, more often than not just sit around with their gentle opacity until the explosive ending where a moment of shocking violence tears the film, and all the relationships in it, asunder. Look, "Snow Angels" is a worthy (if slight) effort from one of this decade’s only real auteurs. I would recommend it to fans of the filmmaker. Just try to mind all those yellow spots in this Angel's snow.
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Snow Angels (2008) review written by: Greg Douglass
6th October, 2008 
