g-bodyl Snow Angels is perhaps one of the most difficult films I have ever watched. This is almost a masterpiece that portrays realistic human emotions. Essentially this is a film that explores the ups and downs of human life and how people deal with them. This dialog-based film has some powerful but key moments that show the audience this. These scenes are genuinely emotional and may induce a tear or two. Difficult as it may be to watch, this film is a plus of cinema.David Gordon Green's film explores several characters and their relationships with each other. We see a shy high school kid, his old babysitter, and her estranged husband and how their lives interconnect with each other.The acting is nearly flawless. Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell deliver some of their finest and perhaps career-defining performances yet. Beckinsale proves that she does not have to be a vampire in the Underworld films to find out she can take these kind of dramatic roles just fine. She does have the emotional depth for these parts. We all know Sam Rockwell is a great actor and this is one of his craziest, but strongest roles.Overall, this is the small-budget masterpiece you'd come to expect. David Gordon Green has a way with giving his characters an emotional core. You come to sympathize for them no matter their flaws. This is just outstanding art that explores characterization to the deepest. With a strong script and engaging story, this is a film every film geek should watch. I rate this film 9/10.

daveydyall This movie seems like the kind of thing someone would write who doesn't have a clear picture of where they want to go with things. Predictably it never arrives. The amount of raving reviews I read on IMDb is really stunning, to the degree that I seriously paused to wonder if the director or writer hasn't payed off a few of his friends to come on here and pump up his dud. In truth, the various loosely associated story lines never really coalesce. There are characters with mildly interesting personalities all over, but there are too many and nobody ever comes to the fore and carries things. The result is a continuous sense of anticipation that slowly settles into the awareness that time has run out for substance, though this comes too late for us to turn it off with time to watch something better before nodding off for the night. The most promising character, and certainly the one we want to like most (the boy), never seems to have more than an observer role in the events on display throughout the film, and so our sympathy for him is never channeled into any direction of note. The "bad guy" crazy husband is absolutely unbelievable as a character, and is made more ridiculous by the caricature of religiosity which he is given. The director must have some personal ax to grind in that respect, but whatever it is it isn't effective. The movie literally starts where it ends, with the bulk of it being a flashback, but this is actually quite apropos of the meaningless lost-in-the-woods wandering sense of the whole piece. I like a good art film. This, friends, isn't even close. Don't waste your time. Seriously. My only guess for an explanation of the raving reviews scattered amid the much more sensible panning might be that people who have watched something else seem to have written about it here by mistake.

bobsgrock For some, the best type of films are those that are character-based: there is no action sequences, no huge stunts or explosions. Rather, there is a story that unfolds and is filled with quiet moments as well as more rambunctious ones that never go over the top into farce. Here, writer/director David Gordon Green handles strong and intense material, yet creates a moving and unforgettable piece of film-making that I will not soon forget.In the same vein as American Beauty, Ordinary People and Little Children, this film explores the simple, everyday lives of people just trying to exist as best they can. People work at jobs they don't like, struggle to relate to their children, each other and themselves, and in this case deal with some unbelievable situations. In whatever case, Green keeps just the right amount of difference at the right time and then shoves it in our face exactly when we need it.To assist him is the cast, which is uniformly excellent in its performances. Kate Beckinsale needs to concentrate on serious films after this really sharp and heartbreaking role as Annie, a single woman struggling to cope with her daughter who she doesn't truly understand and her estranged husband who she regrets not being able to fix her relationship with. The husband, Glenn, is played by Sam Rockwell in I think the film's best performance. Glenn is a struggling alcoholic who also is devoutly religious and the way he attempts to correlate the two elements is both cringing and stunning. The most effective relationship in the film is that between two high school students played by Michael Anagarano and Olivia Thirlby. How sweet and wonderful it is to see two people that truly seem to love, or at least trust, each other in order to have support for their problems. Here, Green seems to be teaching by showing that even young people can and do understand the seriousness and complexity of real relationships.As I said before, this is a very sad film with most of the sadness directed at Annie and Glenn. What is even more sad is that they try to overcome their shortcomings by digging deeper holes. This is a film that evokes great empathy and you want to reach out to these people, knowing they are going to do something regrettable. One thing not regrettable is watching this film, which is simply-told, very powerful and forever unforgettable.

yohance-philip "Snow Angels" was one of the most brilliant pictures I have ever watched. The range in the movie from the brilliant acting to the outstanding storyline touched my soul deeply.The first thing that caught my attention was the brilliant setting in the movie. For anyone who has ever lived up north they can relate to the constant snowy overcast depressing days winter brings. The director seemed to capture this setting brilliantly. This was a movie that definitely had to be set in an very somber dejected environment. The snow was brilliant, the cloud cover was outstanding, the cold weather was amazing. They all played a huge role in capturing the underlying theme of the movie.The story line was also brilliant. A very subtle realistic storyline. There was not the happy ending, there was not the special effect, nor was their the big budget to depend on. The director had to rely on brilliant acting and realistic moments throughout the movie. As angry as Glen made you feel throughout the movie, at some points I also felt very sorry for him. You began to realize that he was a conflicted individual with much deeper issues. You understood that deep in his heart he wanted to be the best for his family. Glen reminded me of a few saddened figures in my life. His frustration and dejected feelings also brought me back to some low points in my life.But there was a great balance. In the midst of all the depression and anger you had 2 innocent young High School kids wrapped up in innocent love. It reminded my of my first High school love and the natural glow a situation like that brings. I even love how Mr Gordan lightly focused on the declining marriage of Arthurs parents. A scene becoming more common in today's world.I cannot express my appreciation for Snow Angels. The humble story line and the brilliant acting captivated me. I have watched the movie at least 5 times within the last 2 weeks.