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Snow Angels

Drama's a knockout, even if it's not as cute and fun as it sounds

By Matt Pais

Metromix
March 6, 2008

Critic's Rating:

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Because the suburbs are never as peaceful as they look, Annie (Kate Beckinsale) struggles to juggle a job, an affair with a married man and her daughter, in addition to the reckless unpredictability of her estranged husband (Sam Rockwell). Meanwhile, marching band trombone player Arthur (Michael Angarano), a high school kid who Annie used to babysit, deals with his parents' separation and the affections of new girl Lila (Olivia Thirlby of "Juno").

Big question: Can David Gordon Green ("Undertow," "All the Real Girls"), a talented filmmaker with a knack for emotional destruction, lend a personal touch to his first adaptation (of Stewart O'Nan's novel) and his most star-driven movie to date?

Catch it: Not as rich as "Little Children" but still mighty upsetting, "Snow Angels" features a best-ever Beckinsale and a truly tragic document of the chinks that scuff up perfection's armor. Gripping and sad, it's a movie about first and last impressions, learning from other people's mistakes, and the need to be surrounded by others while taking care of yourself.

Skip it: If you think you need to put on an act to make someone fall for you. As Lila tells Arthur, "The stupid things you say make me like you even more." Awwwwwwwww.

Bottom line: The themes can't help coming in a "Been there, done that" package, and Green isn't usually so obvious as to use symbols like a house of cards (literally) built with family photos. But most of "Snow Angels" is coolly, crushingly complex, recognizing the challenge of people playing in unison, the loyalties that catch you by surprise and the human instinct to stare down sorrow and carve out some space in the cold.

Bonus: You may be taken back to your teen years when Arthur's mom, the morning after her son got some serious action, recognizes the glow on his face immediately. How do mothers always know?!