Tayloriona
Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.
Donald Seymour
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
Kirandeep Yoder
The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.
SimonJack
"Snow Cake" is an adult drama that is set in Ontario, Canada. It has three stories that overlap. One is of loss and healing from tragic highway deaths. Another is about experiences living with an autistic adult. And the third is about healing and recovery from things in one's past. These facets are peppered with light comedy in places. Alan Rickman is superb as Alex, and Sigourney Weaver shines as Linda. The supporting cast all give very good performances. Emily Hampshire is Vivienne, Carrie-Anne Moss is Maggie, James Allodi is Clyde, Selina Cadell is Diane and Julie Stewart is Florence.The Toronto Sun review of Sept. 15, 2006, called "Snow Cake" "a film for discerning audiences." That hints at why it is an adult drama. The visuals of a highway accident, behavior and actions of an autistic person, intimate relationship between Alex and Maggie raise this above normal fare for young people. It has much for one to contemplate. It runs the gamut of emotions. It's a good film that packs a lot into less than two hours, without ever seeming rushed.Here are some sample lines of comedy and contemplation. Alex, "You're unreasonable, Linda." Linda, "I'm autistic, Alex." Alex, "Well, it's the same thing."Linda, "You have been very helpful, Alex, and I want to say thank you. You're not as interesting as Vivienne was, but you have some quite good characteristics." Alex, "Whoo hoo. Don't go overboard with the praise there, Linda."Alex, "You're the only person I have ever met who I didn't have to explain or even justify myself to." Linda, "Perfectamundo!"
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.
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. :)
Welshfilmfan
I very rarely watch offbeat independent Films, due to the fact that so many seem to be overly worthy,PC & pretentious, 'Snow Cake' seemed to fit into all three categories - but decided I would watch purely on it starring Alan Rickman & Sigourney Weaver.....I'm very glad I did, it's a very well written & acted film, which seemed to have been criminally overlooked.Alex Hughes (Alan Rickman) is a man recently released from Prison after killing a man, and finds himself sitting next to a pretty young girl Vivienne Freeman (Emily Hampshire)at a truck stop Cafe, after much persuasion Vivienne manages to get Alex to give her a lift back home, Tragedy strikes en route as a lorry crashes into Alex's Car, Alex himself is luckily left without a scratch, Vivienne is sadly killed instantly. Alex feels immense guilt over the girl's death and goes to see her Mother Linda (Sigourney Weaver) to offer his condolences, at his arrival he notices that Linda is Mentally handicapped and suffers from severe Autism, and she manages to get Alex to stay with her to sort out the girl's funeral & put out the bins as she 'dosen't do garbage'This does sound very depressing, but It's actually funny & sad in equal measure, Weaver gives a career best performance as the Autistic Mother and is greatly believable, Rickman is very understated but also gives a wonderful performance as the driver who seeks some sort of redemption - despite the car accident not being his fault.Co-starring Carrie-anne Moss (The Matrix) as Maggie, Linda's oversexed neighbour who Alex begins a sexual relationship & Directed by Welshman Marc Evans, who includes songs by Welsh bands in the picture - this is a truly wonderful film that's well worth watching and nowhere near as depressing or PC as it sounds**** out of *****
