Monday, September 22, 2008

Snow Angels [David Gordon Green, 2008]

  • '07 Sundance film that didn't see its theatrical release until March (ideally it should've been released around October, the probable and important setting of the pic)
  • excellently paced, developing characters through short cuts that observe the subtlest bits of behavior, while every once in a while taking a moment to admire the beautifully white town (camerawork a la the great Tim Orr, who's yet to receive Academy appreciation for his talent)
  • standout performance belongs to Sam Rockwell, who continues to stack his pile of great performances that (will) ultimately be forgotten come awards season. young thesps Michael Angarano and Olivia Thirlby give wonderfully mature performances in their pivotal role as the only working relationship in the picture
  • Angels is most admirable for its refusal to shy away from the emptiest depths of human relationships, and its small town realism. Rockwell's Glenn is probably the most sympathetic character in the movie yet he not only disappoints those around him, but the vi hopeful ewer, too. 
  • what could've potentially ranked with George Washington and All the Real Girls, pic disappoints in its last ten minutes once the viewer realizes where its going and how unnecessary it is. really, a near-perfect film up until that point, so its quite disappointing.
8/affecting storytelling

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