Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here. David Gordon Green. That’s all I need to know to know I’m going to see this film, regardless of what anybody says to me ahead of time. I’ve heard mixed word about this one, but I don’t care. I really don’t. Of course, I’m curious to see what people say, but for my money, Green’s one of the most interesting guys working right now. GEORGE WASHINGTON. ALL THE REAL GIRLS. UNDERTOW. These are all worthy efforts so far, and I always look forward to a new film from him. Just like I look forward to Sundance reviews from Grib, like this one:
Hey Harry, Grib here with a review of David Gordon Green's "Snow Angels," starring Sam Rockwell and Kate Beckinsale. David Gordon Green's "Snow Angels" is a wonderfully acted, hauntingly atmospheric, relentlessly depressing movie. Sam Rockwell and Kate Beckinsale star as Glen and Annie, who have recently separated due to Glen's drinking problem and his inability to keep a job. Annie is a waitress at a local diner, and she has custody of the couple's four year old daughter. As the film opens, Glen has started coming around the house again, claiming that he has found God and that he has his act together. He lobbies for more time with their child, but Annie is (rightfully) skeptical. Teenaged Arthur (Michael Angarano, in a wonderful performance) is a dishwasher in the kitchen at the diner where Annie works. Annie was once his babysitter, and his lingering glances at his beautiful co-worker tell us that his boyhood crush may not have completely gone away. Arthur's own family is falling apart: his father (Griffin Dunne), a professor at the local college, has just moved out, leaving his mother (Jeanetta Arnette) to pick up the pieces of her life. Although initially it appears that the sparks between Arthur and Annie might ignite, he soon begins flirting with the new girl at his high school, the artsy and charming Lila (Olivia Thirlby). The scenes between Arthur and Lila are touching and realistic portraits of the awkwardness of first love, and Arthur's sheepish obliviousness to his own romantic appeal provides a much-needed comic counterpoint to the brutal tragedy happening elsewhere. (Tom Noonan also gives a hilarious performance as the high school bandleader directing Arthur and his hapless bandmates in rehearsal for their football halftime performances.) Green is an exciting young filmmaker, and all of his skills are on display here. His periodic intercutting of scenes from the small town's life, which reminds us that life goes on all around us, even in the face of tragedy, is reminiscent of the slices of rural decay and mountain beauty sprinkled throughout his great 2003 film "All the Real Girls." Green shot "Snow Angels" in Nova Scotia, which passes admirably for a wintry, anonymous northeastern town in the United States, and Tim Orr's characteristically beautiful cinematography captures the setting in all of its glory. Green is a master of mood and tone, and his ability to sustain both throughout a film is poetic in effect. There is a somberness to "Snow Angels," and the combustibility of so many people reaching pivotal crossroads in their lives at the same time engenders a palpable sense of impending doom. The multiple storylines weave together seamlessly to create a tapestry of emotion that stays with the viewer long after the screening. Rockwell does the heavy lifting here, and he does not give in to the temptation to overact that has marred some of his earlier efforts. At one point, Glen describes the religious awakening he experienced when he survived a suicidal drive off a bridge; from that day forward, he has worn crosses, prayed almost constantly, and assured all who would listen of God's power for healing and forgiveness. As the film progresses and tragedy strikes his family, however, it becomes painfully evident that. despite his obviously sincere intentions, Glen still cannot conform his behavior to these lofty standards, and his inability to practice what he preaches catalyzes the final tragedy of "Snow Angels." This is a tough movie to watch, but it rewards the effort, especially for those who like Green's work.
