Liberty-AstonMartin
I stumbled upon Snow Cake several years ago and it became and instant favorite. It's a story of realistic people, in sadly real circumstances, finding little moments of happiness in an otherwise difficult world. I don't understand why this film isn't more popular or why it isn't on a streaming service. It is touching, intimate, and inspiring. The story is fairly simple, yet it's like nothing else I've ever watched.
treeline1
Alan Rickman stars as Alex, a dour Brit driving through Canada. He picks up a chatty young hitchhiker but she is accidentally killed. Alex goes to visit her mother (Sigourney Weaver) who is autistic and spends a few days with her.This movie had a lot of potential with a great cast, but the script is maudlin and decidedly underwhelming. Rickman, wonderful as always, gives a sensitive performance as a troubled and lonely man. Carrie Ann Moss is delicious as a seductive neighbor. Spunky Emily Hampshire adds some much-needed life as the hitchhiker. But Weaver, unfortunately, is never convincing as the autistic mother; she's inconsistent and gives a shallow, amateurish performance. There is nothing endearing about her character; she lacks the sweet vulnerability that made Dustin Hoffman so memorable in "Rainman" and I never cared about her.The movie tries too hard to be touching but, lacking a believable script, it falls short. Despite Alan Rickman's best efforts, this is a surprisingly unengaging drama.
sddavis63
In reviewing this movie, the first thing that has to be mentioned are the great performances from the two leads: Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman. Weaver was absolutely unbelievable as Linda Freeman, a woman suffering from autism who is confronted by her daughter's death in a car accident, while Rickman was almost as good (almost because he has a less demanding role) as Alex Hughes (the man who was driving the car in which Linda's daughter was killed.) After the accident, Alex takes it upon himself to visit Linda, and the movie basically follows the relationship the two develop. That, mind you, may be the movie's greatest weakness. I didn't really see either purpose or closure to this. Yes, we watch the relationship evolve, but personally I didn't think either Linda or Alex ever really moved on. I'm not sure after watching this what I wanted them to do, but everything in the end seemed so unresolved. Yes, I learned a lot about living with autism - and Weaver apparently researched the role studiously - but I still kept wondering where this was going and I never really got an answer.Having said that, this was still an enjoyable movie because of Weaver and Rickman, although I confess that I did wonder why - in a Canadian/British production - the need was felt to cast an American actress in the lead role? I appreciated the setting of the movie. Having lived a few years in Northern Ontario, the "feel" seemed realistic, with perhaps the one exception being the reaction of the neighbours to Linda dancing at Vivienne's wake. The movie seemed to portray their disapproval, whereas - knowing these types of communities - I believe the townsfolk would be far more understanding of Linda's "differences." That aside, I would still highly recommend this movie. It features some of the best acting you'll find anywhere. 7/10
Aberlass
How often do you encounter a film that you want to watch again as soon as you have just finished watching it? How often does a film about the range of human interaction, including the 'disability' of unconventional communication, not become a hindrance to enjoyment? How often do we get the opportunity to see an eclectic gathering of some of the most iconic actors ('Alien', 'Harry Potter', 'The Matrix) of our time in an art-house, 'minority' movie about philosophical issues, instead of big-budget Hollywood-studio stereotypical scenarios? What happens if you make an intelligent, optimistic, puzzle film, encompassing every emotion, plus with a heart, but omit bias, moralising and lecturing? Is such a film possible?Wow! If you have never even thought to ask these questions you will be amazed by this film, and if you have asked these questions, then this film is the reward that other people thought them too and knew how to manifest them perfectly!Total respect to all responsible for this unique and delicious masterpiece. :)
AD
