I've just finished watching "Snow Cake," with Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver and Carrie-Ann Moss and I feel like I've been given a really nice gift. It's one of those movies that captivates you completely right from the beginning with its wonderfully imagined characters and simple, touching story.
Rickman plays Alex, a man who is practically shanghaied into giving an engaging teenager a ride from a roadside cafe. Next thing you know, Alex is at the teenager's home, dealing with her mother, Linda, a high-functioning autistic woman who insists on Alex staying around till Tuesday when the trash needs to be put out. Because Linda doesn't do trash.
During his stay, he becomes involved with the sexy next-door neighbour played by Moss, and they find themselves oddly suited for one another. Alex even makes friends with the family dog.
I don't want to tell you more about the plot than that little bit. Even though the plot really isn't the most important part of this movie - the characters are - it's just too good a film to go into it knowing what to expect. Every scene is a pleasant surprise, and the film is refreshingly free of Hollywood stereotypes in both character and plot devices.
Interestingly, the movie was shot in Wawa, Ontario - and doesn't hide the fact - and has a wonderfully Canadian feel about it, right down to the rustic canadiana picture sweater Alex is given to wear, and the giant goose just outside town - while still boasting the polish of high-caliber actors, screenplay and production values. There are scenes so touching you'll be wiping away the odd tear or two, and other scenes so quirkily funny you can't help but laugh out loud.
Loved it, loved it, loved it. I hope you will make a point of seeing it and let me know in the comments what you thought.
2 comments:
Yes, heartily agreed. It's just a good and gentle film, something Hollywood rarely makes anymore. Snow Cake is my favourite Alan Rickman film, next to Blow Dry. You might try that one, if you haven't seen it yet. Just another feel-good movie that I never get tired of watching when I need something to cheer me.
Oh yes! I just saw Blow Dry about a month ago...another little movie I stumbled across by accident and got ensnared by almost as soon as I started watching. You know a movie will be good when you watch for five minutes and can't bear to stop watching, even though you hardly know what it's about yet. Blow Dry was great.
If you like Alan Rickman movies, you should look for a movie he directed called The Winter Guest, starring Emma Thompson. Rickman doesn't appear onscreen, but the film has that same character-driven quirky charm that Blow dry and Snow Cake have. You can tell that Rickman loves that type of movie. A very versatile actor with a wide taste in projects.
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