Featured Audience Ratings

• Emil K

  
  This film has that rare hypnotic beauty and power. Scott Hicks, who most certainly is one of the most underrated directors of our times, has made a film so gorgeous and so atmospheric that it just takes my breath away everytime i see it. With a support from great photographer Robert… More
  This film has that rare hypnotic beauty and power. Scott Hicks, who most certainly is one of the most underrated directors of our times, has made a film so gorgeous and so atmospheric that it just takes my breath away everytime i see it. With a support from great photographer Robert Richardson, director Hicks turns this grim and melancholic mystery/love - story into a something poetic and even quite experimental. The screenplay which Hicks himself wrote along with Ron Bass is a ambitious work that asks lot from the viewer and rewards a patient one. There are many flashbacks and many storylines here, but ultimately it works quite well. For me this story that begins as a murder-mystery and then turns into a something much more, is truly touching. It has certainly too many familiar moments at courtroom, but those quietly eerie shots of a small-town that is nearly completely snowbound and those grand magical forests which are like taken straightly from the pages of fairytale, brings also magical quality into this film that adds something unique to the story. Snow falling on Cedars is a film also blessed with a unbelievably good cast which include actors like Max Von Sydow, Sam Shepard, Ethan Hawke, Richard Jenkins and outstanding Youki Kudoh. it is always such a pleasure to see film where actors seem to understand the nuances of the story and don't fall into overdoing their characters. This is simply not a film only for entertainment, this is also art. Snow Falling on Cedars might have some major flaws, but it also has a quite a atmosphere too.

• Alice S

  
  Beautiful performances, cinematography, editing, and score. BUT I must say watching this film again with a total paranoid cynic who doesn't think films should get wrapped up in the awesomeness of their own beauty has harshed my mellow a bit. The montages and flashback/forward… More
  Beautiful performances, cinematography, editing, and score. BUT I must say watching this film again with a total paranoid cynic who doesn't think films should get wrapped up in the awesomeness of their own beauty has harshed my mellow a bit. The montages and flashback/forward editing ARE slightly self-indulgent and they take time away from the most iconic (3 second) shot of the movie - that of the Japanese internment camp prisoners walking on the docks under a blissfully ignorant American flag. If you're gonna make a statement, damn well make it right!

• Tom E

  
  This is the first movie I've ever seen that addressed the issue of the Japanese internment during WWII (aside from the fleeting reference in Midway) -- It shows how Childhood friendship pays off in adulthood -- I loved it!

• xGary X

  
  When an american-japanese fisherman is accused of murdering an childhood friend in the shadow of WWII, Ethan Hawke finds himself trapped in a crisis of conscience when he comes across possible evidence of his innocence. This is a beautifully crafted, very literary period drama in… More
  When an american-japanese fisherman is accused of murdering an childhood friend in the shadow of WWII, Ethan Hawke finds himself trapped in a crisis of conscience when he comes across possible evidence of his innocence. This is a beautifully crafted, very literary period drama in which the courtroom scenes are intercut with flashbacks from the lives of the various protagonists to produce a rich tapestry of motives, prejudices and conflicts of interest that affect their actions. It's beautifully shot in gorgeous snow-laden countryside, with a sensitive and pivotal performance by Youki Kudoh, while Max Von Sydow dominates the courtroom scenes in his inimitable style. It reminded me a little of a chilly English Patient. Except it's good.

• Steve K

  
  Gorgeous cinematography. I enjoyed this.

• Leigh R

  
  Nice film.

• Mike T

  
  This movie does minimal justice to a complex, interesting story that could have provided for a much more engaging viewing experience. Photographed with breath-taking prowess, it was fully deserving of its Best Cinematography nomination. That being said, the artificial writing detracts… More
  This movie does minimal justice to a complex, interesting story that could have provided for a much more engaging viewing experience. Photographed with breath-taking prowess, it was fully deserving of its Best Cinematography nomination. That being said, the artificial writing detracts from the visual beauty of the film and leaves the audience feeling cheated. By the end of the film I was sick of the agitating manipulation, muddled structure, lack of character development and a nonstop barrage of cliches. Ethan Hawke and Max von Sydow perform well with the little amount of screen time they have, but the performances surrounding them are almost unanimously wooden and unconvincing. To put it plainly, this is a pretty movie to look at, but there's nothing else there.

• Brian R

  
  I really enjoyed watching this film. First off the picture is simply beautiful. Just beautiful. Robert Richardson without a doubt stands alone as the greatest cinematographer of our time. The dark shadows, the fog, the beautiful wintery snow, the slow motions, the deep photography is… More
  I really enjoyed watching this film. First off the picture is simply beautiful. Just beautiful. Robert Richardson without a doubt stands alone as the greatest cinematographer of our time. The dark shadows, the fog, the beautiful wintery snow, the slow motions, the deep photography is really captivating. As for the story, well that seems to be the problem..."Snow Falling On Cedars" is about two stories. One it is about the murder of a fisherman that affects a community (reminiscent to Atom Egoyan's "The Sweet Hereafter") and two it is about a simple love story between a Japanese American girl and a Caucasian boy. One of the problems I think a lot of had while watching this picture is through the editing. Hank Corwin is my fav film editor and here he cuts the story back and fourth through flashbacks giving it a non-linear vibe. It can all be very confusing because everything becomes fractured, things aren't all quite clear and one has to sometimes double back to make sure they have an understanding of the plot. I also felt that the love story between Ishmael Chambers (Ethan Hawke) and Hatsue Miyamoto (Youki Kudoh) felt flat and somewhat boring. I wanted to be close to these characters more then anything, particularly Rick Yune's character since we should be looking at his POV and is a crucial character to the plot. I also felt the picture should have concentrated more on the Japanese community and really getting a sense of their struggles of prejudice/discrimination during those times. Overall if one doesn't mind what the picture is about and wants to see gorgeous photography and a balletic approach, well then this one's for you. If you have a strong dislike for slow moving plots/lacking characters then look elsewhere. Me personally, this film is a keeper.

• Daisy M

  
  <a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i25.tinypic.com/11l3akn.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>for disturbing images, sensuality and strong language. Snow falls on… More
  <a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i25.tinypic.com/11l3akn.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>for disturbing images, sensuality and strong language. Snow falls on Cedar was more a court case movie than a romantic one that revealed the story of an American boy Ishmael and a Japanese girl Matsue. Nine years after their separation, the young lovers meet again at the trial of Matsue's husband Kazuo (Rick Yune), accused of murdering American fisherman Carl Heine.The performances and directing were unbelievable, especially Ethan Hawke in the role of Ishmael, a local reporter who was torn between love and doing the right thing. Some scenes were breath-taking and the music was amazing. A must to see.

• Dimitris S

  
  Who would think that after Shine Hicks would fall on mediocrity and boredom?Snow falling on cypress marbles.A metaphor?Probably,a simple flick regarding the prejudice of a noble society?Affirmative but where is the original pleasure and the heart of an auteur?

• Leo L

  
  Beautiful movie.

Read all 11 featured audience ratings