First Snow (2006)

A psychic's ominous reading sends a man into a tailspin.

Director:

Mark Fergus

Writers:

Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby

Stars:

Guy Pearce, Steven Michael Quezada, Piper Perabo

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Guy Pearce	...	Jimmy Starks
Steven Michael Quezada	...	Mechanic Enrique (as Steven Quezada)
J.K. Simmons	...	Vacaro
Nicholas Ballas	...	Tavern Owner Pete
Piper Perabo	...	Deirdre
Rick Gonzalez	...	Andy Lopez
William Fichtner	...	Ed Jacomoi
David House	...	Bartender Sammy
Julie Gawkowski	...	Receptionist
Luce Rains	...	Roy Harrison
Forrest Fyre	...	Dr. Bates
Gurudarshan	...	Psychic Woman (as Gurudarshan Khalsa)
Callie Anne Morgan	...	Psychic Woman's Daughter
Jo Ann Soto	...	Crying Woman
Adriana Cordova	...	Andy Lopez's Wife

Storyline

Wound tight and cocky, Jimmy Starks is a smooth-talking salesman certain he's on the verge of a big break. Even when his car stalls in the middle of nowhere, a roadside soothsayer assures him a windfall is on its way. But although Jimmy should be happy when his boss suddenly agrees to financially back his business venture, he starts to become paranoid instead. As his girlfriend Deirdre and his best friend/ business partner Ed watch him slowly come unwound, Jimmy wonders if a past betrayal of his friend, newly paroled Vince, could be catching up to him. And, as the weather turns cold, Jimmy can't help but fear the mysterious seer's other prediction... that they'll be no tomorrow after the first snow.

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Plot Keywords:

friend | snow | partner | reading | psychic | 

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Taglines:

What if someone looked into your future and didn't see tomorrow?

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some violence and sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [us]

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 March 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

A jóslat

Filming Locations:

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Furst Films, Kustom Entertainment, El Camino Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color (FotoKem)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In the scene where Jimmy's girlfriend has gone to his house to get her stuff, the collar on her sweater appears down when shown from the back. When the scene switches to her front, the collar is pulled up.

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Quotes

Vacaro: One thing is certain... you will be safe until the first snow.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Episode dated 7 April 2007 (2007)

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Soundtracks

"When The Blues Catch Up To You"
Written by Dennis Walker and Alan Mirikitani
Performed by Bettye LaVette (as Betty LaVette)
Courtesy of Blues Express Records

User Reviews

Empty Fate

Judging from other reviews and comments, missing Guy Pearce's performance in 'Memento' helps appreciate 'First Snow'. Here he impressively fleshes out the script's thin characterization of Jimmy Stark, a traveling salesman and life-long huckster who becomes convinced his impending death was foretold by a roadside psychic. The chance encounter sets into motion events he torments himself and those around him to control, thrashing from one catastrophe to another uncertain of their significance. Ultimately everything matters, major and minor, past and present cleverly interlocking for a final resolution. It's a solid and memorable portrayal of a man simultaneously forced to face both his past and his fate.

As good as it is though it's trumped by J.K. Simmons' terrific and too-short portrayal of Vacaro, the middle-aged nomad living out a solitary existence with an old pickup and camper to show for his unique 'gift'. Here the film wonderfully avoids the usual dead Hollywood clichés (humourously contrasted and lampooned at one point) for a resigned true psychic who wants little more than to go fishing. Without histrionics or gesture Simmons is utterly convincing and engrossing throughout.

If only the same can be said of the sum. With two such strong performances focused on the universal question of fate vs. self-determination it's hard to put a finger on why the film never gels. The plot offers up enough clever and well though-out twists, events unfold naturally without reliance on astronomical coincidences to guide them, supporting characters are serviceable and the cinematography fine, yet the viewer is held at a disinterested distance. Part of the blame rests on the rushed and unsatisfying ending, some of it on where the film does rely on clichés to carry sub-plots - the usual romantic candle-lit tub scene for example to develop Jimmy's relationship with his live-in girlfriend. Only when Pearce and Simmons are on screen together did I care about the characters and those scenes were short.

Pearce and Simmons tack points on an otherwise promising but mid-pack film. 7/10.