Featured Audience Ratings

• Jim H

  
  Stories about teenage love and a marriage that has all but disintegrated are interconnected in this drama. Strong performances by Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell highlight this indie drama, but the film's weakness is its inability to either reach the Altman Standard for… More
  Stories about teenage love and a marriage that has all but disintegrated are interconnected in this drama. Strong performances by Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell highlight this indie drama, but the film's weakness is its inability to either reach the Altman Standard for interconnecting stories or link the stories with a common theme. The best that I can manage for a common theme is weak: I think the film suggests that relationships inevitably decay despite the grand optimism with which we enter them, a claim evidenced by the parallels between Annie and Glenn's marriage and their younger counterparts. But I feel like I'm doing more work than the film is in order to tease some semblance of sense. Overall, this effort represents the dangers of trying to do too much and fit a whole novel into a medium that can't carry all the weight.

• Emil K

  
  A Poetic film from director/writer David Gordon Green that does not not hold together as a whole, but manages to be grim and painful look into grief. Green has quietly become one of the better auteurs of our times. He seems to really understand his characters and truly cares about… More
  A Poetic film from director/writer David Gordon Green that does not not hold together as a whole, but manages to be grim and painful look into grief. Green has quietly become one of the better auteurs of our times. He seems to really understand his characters and truly cares about them. That is also the reason why his films are so effective and one of a kind. You do not just sit and watch these people. You live and feel with them. Snow Angels which is his greatest film to date, will leave a lasting impression on you most certainly. It is a film with a strong impact. It also has wonderfully claustrophobic winter-setting that creates a feeling of unease and strange beauty at the same time. And when it comes to acting it is hard to see better acting anywhere in these days. Sam Rockwell and Kate Beckinsale truly reminds us what great actors are made of. Snow Angels can be little unfocused at times , but you know that it has touched you in rare kind of way, when you notice returning yourself to its world and its characters over and over in your head long after the end credits.

• Sajin P

  
  An overwrought tragedy, that doesn't provide much of a purpose. A good watch for Beckinsale and Rockwell fans, maybe.

• Lewis C

  
  "It's easy for...for us to block out the things that upset us. That's what I do. That's what most people do. But it's important that you feel through this." Hmmm. Ah...well. Where to begin with this one? I had high hopes for Snow Angels. I'm a fan… More
  "It's easy for...for us to block out the things that upset us. That's what I do. That's what most people do. But it's important that you feel through this." Hmmm. Ah...well. Where to begin with this one? I had high hopes for Snow Angels. I'm a fan of Sam Rockwell, Olivia Thirlby, and Kate Beckinsale, and was looking forward to seeing them all in an indie drama that seemed promising from all the reviews I've read. Needless to say, my expectations were not met. Snow Angels had an odd way of becoming less interesting and more muddled as it went along. It's like the writer became less certain of what he wanted to do and the story's message as the movie progressed. The beginning was promising, but by the the time the film meandered to its close, I was thoroughly confused about what the point was of all the interconnected characters and their actions. I quite enjoy "different" movies, as a rule, but Snow Angels did little for me. None of the performances were noteworthy enough to overcome a story that seemed to lack a central theme after it reaches an emotional highpoint near the middle of the movie. This one left me scratching my head, and not in a good way.

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell, Griffin Dunne, Michael Angarano, Olivia Thirby, Nicky Katt, Amy Sedaris, Jeanetta Arnette, Lita Llewellyn, Connor Paolo Director: David Gordon Green Summary: Based on Stewart O'Nan's novel, this indie drama from writer-director… More
  Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell, Griffin Dunne, Michael Angarano, Olivia Thirby, Nicky Katt, Amy Sedaris, Jeanetta Arnette, Lita Llewellyn, Connor Paolo Director: David Gordon Green Summary: Based on Stewart O'Nan's novel, this indie drama from writer-director David Gordon Green intertwines parallel stories about teenager Arthur Parkinson (Michael Angarano) and the broken family of his former baby-sitter, Annie Marchand (Kate Beckinsale). Once the object of Arthur's boyhood infatuation, small-town waitress Annie heads down a fateful path after enduring a stormy relationship with her estranged spouse (Sam Rockwell). My Thoughts: "I'm a fan of David Gordon Green, and he never disappoints with any film he does. Another dark drama that's depressing from beginning to end. The story of the failed marriage of Glenn and Annie, is the most disturbing and hard to watch relationship in this film. One of Sam Rockwell's best performances. He really was great in this film. The film in a whole has a lot of great acting in it, with Kate Beckinsale and Michael Angarano being two of them. The winter setting really captures the mood of the movie, cold and depressing. Great film, that slowly builds to a very dramatic ending. It's definitely worth taking a look at."

• Red L

  
  If you like dramas about people struggling with their lives and loves, this is the movie for you. Unfortunately many of the characters in this film are slightly damaged, so there is a lot of struggle. But it is a film to remember.

• Dan S

  
  Easily one of the more depressing films I've seen in a long, long time. It takes a page out of "The Sweet Hereafter" in terms of the setting as well as examining how a small town deals with the aftermath of an incredible tragedy. The cast is in top form, with knockout… More
  Easily one of the more depressing films I've seen in a long, long time. It takes a page out of "The Sweet Hereafter" in terms of the setting as well as examining how a small town deals with the aftermath of an incredible tragedy. The cast is in top form, with knockout performances from both Kate Beckinsale (proving she isn't just some chick with a pretty face) and Sam Rockwell (whose quickly becoming one of my favorite lead actors). The tone is very downbeat and it's not a fun movie to sit though, but it is an interesting one that won't let go of you immediately after it's jarring conclusion. It's not a perfect film by any stretch of the imagination, but is is one that is well crafted and definitely heartbreaking.

• Conner R

  
  A lot of interesting characters, some not exactly likable (Kate Beckinsale). It has tragedy and a love story going on at the same and somehow manages to make that work. It's a pretty good ensemble piece and sets itself apart from most movies like it.

• Josh L

  
  A very devastating story guided by great performances from the entire cast. Kate Beckinsale has impressed me with her dramatic acting abilities in this and Nothing But The Truth. I didn't realize how awesome Olivia Thirlby is until I saw this movie. She was simply delightful. Sam… More
  A very devastating story guided by great performances from the entire cast. Kate Beckinsale has impressed me with her dramatic acting abilities in this and Nothing But The Truth. I didn't realize how awesome Olivia Thirlby is until I saw this movie. She was simply delightful. Sam Rockwell on the other hand is entirely the opposite and he plays it to almost perfection. The ending I wasn't a big fan of, but I didn't hate it. By then I was already wrapped up in the story.

• Eric S

  
  Sam Rockwell and Kate Beckisale turn in brilliant performances in this moving tale of an estranged, alcoholic husband/father, the life of a teenager, an old baby sitter, and an emotionally frazzled young woman. This film is not a "pick me up" piece of drama, but worth seeing… More
  Sam Rockwell and Kate Beckisale turn in brilliant performances in this moving tale of an estranged, alcoholic husband/father, the life of a teenager, an old baby sitter, and an emotionally frazzled young woman. This film is not a "pick me up" piece of drama, but worth seeing nevertheless.

• Nicki M

  
  Kind of depressing and I can't see myself wanting to sit and watch it again, but a good movie.

• Luke B

  
  David Gordon Greene continues a fabulous career. Here he shows his skills at adapting other peoples work. Sure it lacks the deeply buried emotions of George Washington and All the Real Girls, and is slightly less subtle, but it is still a powerful and excruciating story. Greene pulls… More
  David Gordon Greene continues a fabulous career. Here he shows his skills at adapting other peoples work. Sure it lacks the deeply buried emotions of George Washington and All the Real Girls, and is slightly less subtle, but it is still a powerful and excruciating story. Greene pulls no punches in delving far into his characters flaws and highlights events from all angles. The film cleverly starts with a gun shot in the distance. The film then goes back to a few weeks previously and depicts the events leading up to the gun shot. In this respect it is also a mystery. Who fires the gun? Were they shooting at someone? Will someone be killed? Why were they shooting? Luckily this never detracts from the story being told. In fact it results in more attention being paid as we try to calculate motives or predict where the film is headed. A wonderful movie, but not one to enjoy in a large group with buckets of popcorn.

• Nate Z

  
  [font=Arial][color=DarkRed]Frost/Nixon - The adaptation of the hit stage play, with its original leads, is an intellectually stimulating experience and a fluid adaptation from stage to screen, thanks to director Ron Howard. The acting is top-notch; Frank Langella may not readily… More
  [font=Arial][color=DarkRed]Frost/Nixon - The adaptation of the hit stage play, with its original leads, is an intellectually stimulating experience and a fluid adaptation from stage to screen, thanks to director Ron Howard. The acting is top-notch; Frank Langella may not readily resemble President Richard Nixon but he inhabits the man completely. In a surprising twist, [i]Frost/Nixon[/i] is not a heavy-handed story that merely beats up on an antagonist that can no longer defend himself. Nixon's faults are not excused but the man is presented in a deeply humanistic portrayal. This isn't a mustache-twirling rogue but a man who came from abject poverty, who rose above his critics who dismissed his humble beginnings, and who has regret and shame for what transpired while he was in office. And he's funny. Nixon is a funny man. Characters are not just political punching bags here. Peter Morgan's screenplay, based upon his stage play, brings tremendous excitement to the art of debate, framing it like a boxing match. The sparring side notes present some of the more fascinating details between the series of four interviews between Nixon and British personality David Frost (Michael Sheen). But here's the thing. [i]Frost/Nixon[/i] is an entertaining movie but once it's over it completely vanishes from your brain. It leaves little impact. The movie tries to make Frost's coup a bigger deal than it was. The film is constantly trying to convince you of its importance. It's a swell time for two hours but after that, what? Obviously the grilling of the president for getting away with crimes in office is supposed to be a statement on the outgoing President Bush, but what? Should we hope that an unassuming figure much like Frost will be able to get Bush to open up his soul? Get Regis Philbin on the phone. Nate's Grade: A- Changeling - This is one crackerjack of a story. The true-life tale of a mother, Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie), who loses her son, only to have the LAPD give her a different boy is easily gripping. The pace is a bit elegiac but the movie never gets boring, partly because Christine is beset by a multitude of adversity by the corrupt members of the 1920s LAPD who want the case to go away. [i]Changeling[/i] can seem to fall prey to outrage cinema, and the audience is clearly going to demand some justice after watching Christine undergo a torture chamber of abuse. And justice is what we get. The last 45 minutes of this movie is protracted courtroom sequences where the antagonists get stomped upon with righteous fury. It just keeps going on and on, as if to compensate for the massive grievances Christine endures. Writer J. Michael Stracynzski ([i]Babylon 5[/i], my wife's favorite TV show of all time) makes the drama stick close to the facts of the case, which is admirable but it also makes [i]Changeling [/i]anchored to reality when there is nothing, repeat nothing, subtle in this movie. It's hardcore melodrama all the way through, but I didn't mind one bit. Jolie's frantic performance suits the melodramatic material. She leaves it all on the floor, as they say in sports. Clint Eastwood doesn't seem to be too enraptured by the material, routinely slipping into his understated direction that seems at odds with such a juicy story. [i]Changeling[/i] feels like a tremendously fascinating story that isn't necessarily presented in the best fashion. Still, this is fine stuff. Nate's Grade: B+ Snow Angels - Director David Gordon Green is likely the most observant auteur today when it comes to exploring the realities of life in small towns. [i]Snow Angels[/i] is a somber drama that follows an estranged couple (Sam Rockwell, Kate Beckinsale) going through the hard times of life in a snowy rural town. The couple is also beset by some tragic accidents that come in at the appropriate time, an hour into the film, which means that we've gotten to know the characters enough to build a relationship with them and also that there will be plenty of time left to watch these characters react. The movie has a handful of interrelated characters that don't all sustain the same level of interest. Watching a band geek lose his virginity to a smart girl (Oliva Thirlby, deflowering her second 2008 virgin) is just not comparable to other storylines. [i]Snow Angels[/i] has an astute sense of resignation throughout, like the characters know they will forever be stuck in dead-end jobs and live the rest of their lonely lives as fated. The movie takes some very dark turns but they feel authentic to the drama. Green creates such a rich portrait of despair and the inequities of small town life. Nate's Grade: B The Incredible Hulk - Maybe the American public just doesn't care for the jolly green giant. The second incarnation of a big screen Hulk flick is better paced, with more action sequences and better special effects, but I just kept shrugging my shoulders the whole time. I was never truly engaged by the movie at any point. Edward Norton fills the role of Bruce Banner for the second go-round and does an admirable job. The climax involving one giant CGI monster battling another giant CGI monster gets tiresome. This is a fairly middle of the road movie that might pass the time but does little else with style. Nate's Grade: B- The Bank Job - An intelligent and rather crackling heist movie that also happens to be based on a true story. The 1971 British bank heist has so many characters involved that you may need a helpful cheat sheet, especially when it comes to varied loyalties. There are three separate groups all playing their own game, and when the heist doesn't go exactly according to plan, and then the movie gets even more complicated. It's a flavorful and funny heist movie that also doesn't ignore the severe repercussions and life-and-death stakes. [i]The Bank Job[/i] is an engrossing crime caper that still manages to thrill and surprise an audience. Nate's Grade: B+[/color][/font]

• Drew S

  
  Absolutely heartbreaking. David Gordon Green had a damn good year, didn't he? More later

• Dean M

  
  This emotional drama tale is a captivating! Empowered by the bone-real performances of Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell and young Michael Angarano. This story captures the power of first love. And second chances. I dislike Sam Rockwell's character as a divorced father of a… More
  This emotional drama tale is a captivating! Empowered by the bone-real performances of Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell and young Michael Angarano. This story captures the power of first love. And second chances. I dislike Sam Rockwell's character as a divorced father of a four-year-old daughter because he's bloody crazy and bad behaviour.

• Aaron N

  
  Band Leader: Are you ready to be my sledgehammer? A well acted film that fits itself very firmly in the drama category, but doesn't resort to a predictable plot line. This doesn't mean the film constantly throws curve balls at the audience, but it certainly portrays a… More
  Band Leader: Are you ready to be my sledgehammer? A well acted film that fits itself very firmly in the drama category, but doesn't resort to a predictable plot line. This doesn't mean the film constantly throws curve balls at the audience, but it certainly portrays a series of events in real, awkward, and sad ways throughout. There are two main stories going on in this film. One involves a woman, played by Kate Beckinsale, working a waitress job and caring for her daughter. She is estranged from her former alcoholic husband, played by the great Sam Rockwell, who is doing the best he can to get a job and live by the bible after a suicide attempt. The other story involves a high school boy, played by Michael Angarano, who is a part of the school marching band, has a budding relationship with a new girl in school, played by Olivia Thirlby, and has just seen his parents separate. The lives of many of these characters are intertwined in various ways, as they all live in an unnamed, snowy town. Various events and one in particular eventually bring the characters to new points in their lives causing various degrees of turmoil or new connections. This is me trying not to give away to many specific plot details. Louise Parkinson: Its easy to block out the things that upset us. That's what most people do. The movie relies mainly on individual scenes, connected of course by the fact that the characters remain the same, but many scenes seem to easily work as ones that would standalone. This is a credit to the fantastic cast, portraying these characters in a very realistic (and at many times awkward) manner. Beckinsale and Rockwell in particular. I'm certainly warming up more to Beckinsale as an actress (opposed to just a very hot woman) the more I see her in actual acting roles and I've been a fan of Rockwell for a long time. The movie is also filled with a number of supporting character actors who all play there roles very well. Complete with a good score and wonderful cinematography to capture the snowy atmosphere, this is a very well made movie that unfortunately hits pretty hard with its drama at some points, which doesn't hurt the film necessarily, but certainly drags one into the sadness seen by the characters. Glenn: You think your bad cause you have a baseball bat. I'm bad man. I'm bad.

• Manu G

  
  The movie was decent but lacked of alot of things that were needed. A very good acting performance by Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell. A drama that interweaves the life of a teenager, with his old baby sitter, her estranged husband, and their daughter.

• Jani H

  
  Another 2008 indie gem. The story focuses on relationships in a small community somewhere in the US. A couple married but have their love lost and a young couple that's about to find it. But what would a indie film be without a tragic incident... "Snow angels" has a… More
  Another 2008 indie gem. The story focuses on relationships in a small community somewhere in the US. A couple married but have their love lost and a young couple that's about to find it. But what would a indie film be without a tragic incident... "Snow angels" has a stellar cast that delivers good performances. I especially liked the talented young actors, Olivia Thirlby and Michael Angarano. Sam Rockwell goes a little bit over the top at times but the strongest aspect in "Snow angels" is truly the cast. Kate Beckinsale, always nice to see her. The story is full of smart dialogue and halfway through the movie, the script delivers a nice turn. On the negative side, the story sometimes loses focus but still it delivers good, solid entertainment.

• Curtis L

  
  Not terrible. Sam Rockwell, cooky as always, and this time with beer and a shotgun! Kate Beckinsale did a pretty good acting job, and she was hot and a baeche.

• Tim S

  
  Definitely David Gordon Green's best film to date. The entire cast was terrific, but the actor who stands out the most is Rockwell. This guy is one of my favorite actors out there right now. His performance is amazing. It's a fucking shame that he didn't get more… More
  Definitely David Gordon Green's best film to date. The entire cast was terrific, but the actor who stands out the most is Rockwell. This guy is one of my favorite actors out there right now. His performance is amazing. It's a fucking shame that he didn't get more recognition for this role because he was flawless. Beskinsale also does a great job because you totally forget that it's Kate Beckinsale. Great film.

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