Snow Angels (2007/I)

Director:

David Gordon Green

Writers (WGA):

David Gordon Green (screenplay)
Stewart O'Nan (novel)

Release Date:

11 September 2008 (Greece)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Some will fall. Some will fly.

Plot:

A drama that interweaves the life of a teenager, with his old baby sitter, her estranged husband, and their daughter.

Plot Keywords:

School | Snow | Restaurant | Football Game | Small Town

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Kate Beckinsale	...	Annie Marchand
Sam Rockwell	...	Glenn Marchand
Michael Angarano	...	Arthur Parkinson
Jeannetta Arnette	...	Louise Parkinson
Griffin Dunne	...	Don Parkinson
Nicky Katt	...	Nate Petite
Tom Noonan	...	Mr. Chervenick
Connor Paolo	...	Warren Hardesky
Amy Sedaris	...	Barb Petite
Olivia Thirlby	...	Lila Raybern
Gracie Hudson	...	Tara Marchand (as Grace Hudson)
Brian Downey	...	Frank Marchand
Carroll Godsman	...	Olive Marchand
Daniel Lillford	...	Rafe
Deborah Allen	...	May Van Dorn
Slavko Negulic	...	Oskar (as Slavico Negulic)
Leah Ostry	...	Lily Raybern
Lita Llewellyn	...	Tricia
Peter Blais	...	Mr. Eisenstat
Hugh Thompson	...	Inspector Burns
Angela Vermeir	...	Marcia Dolan
Yuriy Sobeshchakov	...	Mall Photographer
Linda M. Kearley	...	Carpet Shopper #1
Wendy Purkis	...	Carpet Shopper #2
Brian Heighton	...	Trooper #1
Chase Duffy	...	Trooper #2
Martha Irving	...	Policewoman
George E. Clayton	...	Dancing King
Joanne Fordham	...	Lady Krueger
Amy Richard	...	Warren's Girl
Scott Clackum	...	Dancing Groom
Pat Healy	...	Nursing Home Operator
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joe the Dog	...	Bomber (uncredited)

Directed by
David Gordon Green

Writing credits (WGA)
David Gordon Green		(screenplay)
Stewart O'Nan		(novel "Snow Angels")

Produced by
Jeannie Donovan Fisher	....	executive producer
Dan Lindau	....	producer
R. Paul Miller	....	producer
Lisa Muskat	....	producer
Cami Taylor	....	producer
Derrick Tseng	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Jeff McIlwain
David Wingo

Cinematography by
Tim Orr

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Suzanne Crowley		(as Suzanne Smith)
Billy Hopkins
Paul Schnee

Production Design by
Richard A. Wright

Art Direction by
Terry Quennell

Set Decoration by
Ian Greig

Costume Design by
Kate Rose

Makeup Department
Evan Hyisky	....	key hair stylist
Elizabeth Kuchurean	....	key hair stylist
Elizabeth Kuchurean	....	key makeup artist
Amanda O'Leary	....	assistant makeup artist
Vasilios Tanis	....	personal makeup artist: Kate Beckinsale

Production Management
Meredith Blake	....	post-production supervisor
Elizabeth Guildford	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Devin Hillier	....	third assistant director
Kay Robertson	....	second assistant director
John Shurko	....	trainee assistant director
Stuart Williams	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jason Clarke	....	assistant art director
Mark MacAulay	....	art department intern
Andy Miller	....	props

Sound Department
Larry Blake	....	sound re-recording mixer
Larry Blake	....	supervising sound editor
Christof Gebert	....	production sound mixer
Gerry Jackman	....	boom operator
Kimaree Long	....	dialogue editor
Brian Seagrave	....	audio post-conform
Billy Theriot	....	assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
Gary Coates	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
John Awoods	....	stunt double
Randy Boliver	....	stunt coordinator
Peter Simas	....	stunt double
Peter Simas	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian A. Adams	....	daily grip
Keith Adams	....	best boy grip
Chris Baxter	....	dolly grip
Lori Ann Bellefontaine	....	generator operator
Darcy Fraser	....	assistant camera
Ron MacNeil	....	grip
Michael P. Mason	....	daily grip
Robert J. Petrie	....	gaffer
Ross Sangster	....	key grip
Alan Sweet	....	electrician
James Thibodeau	....	best boy
Rob Turner	....	grip
Todd Voogt	....	daily grip

Casting Department
Sheila Lane	....	casting
Marny Smith	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lawrence Willett	....	costume assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
George Bunce	....	digital intermediate on-line editor
John Crowley	....	digital intermediate colorist
Jeff Hocken	....	telecine operator
Chris DeLaGuardia	....	color timer (uncredited)
Travis Sittard	....	additional editor (uncredited)
Corey Stewart	....	digital intermediate engineer (uncredited)

Music Department
Janice Ginsberg	....	music supervisor
Kyle Wilamowski	....	assistant to music supervisor

Transportation Department
Rob Eshelby	....	az driver
Emmanuel 'Manny' Taylor	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
William Flower	....	animal wrangler
Cathy Grant	....	production coordinator
Maynard Harris	....	power pod technician
Phil Hatcher	....	assistant location manager
Tracey Hatcher	....	accounting assistant
Erin Heidenreich	....	sales agent
Mary Louise McCloskey	....	script supervisor
Janice Sheridan	....	production accountant
Andy Smith	....	dialect coach
Chris Turner	....	stand-in
Heather Soper	....	animal trainer: dog (uncredited)
Thomas Torrey	....	office production assistant intern (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Crossroads Films
• Snow Blower Productions
• True Love Productions

Distributors

• Warner Independent Pictures (WIP) (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2008) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2007) (Romania) (all media)
• Spentzos Films (2009) (Greece) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Special Effects Atlantic

Other Companies

• Canada Film Capital  tax incentive consulting services
• Checkmark  funding
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some violent content, brief sexuality and drug use

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:NC-16 | Netherlands:12 | Australia:MA | Norway:15 | Finland:K-15 | Portugal:M/16 | Germany:12 | Sweden:11 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada

Company:

Crossroads Films

Trivia:

David Gordon Green, who would end up directing the film, first worked on the script for another director. After 3 years, this other director moved on to other projects and Green was approached by the producers to make the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where Arthur takes a swig from a bottle of beer hidden on the floor, he raises it with the label facing him. In the next cut scene, as he lowers the bottle, the label can be clearly seen facing the camera.

Quotes:

Arthur Parkinson:She used to babysit me when i was younger, for years. She used to let me stay up til past midnight. I had a crush on her. I used to drop my toys on the floor. She'd have to bend down, pick them up, I could see right down her shirt. She stayed over once, my parents went out of town. And I saw her naked. I took my moms little make up mirror, tilted it under the bathroom door, watched her shower. She was beautiful.

Movie Connections:

References Top Gun (1986)

Soundtrack:

Will I Ever Get Back Home Again

Heartbreaking, tragic and sensational.

In the hands of a less capable director, this devastating tale of loneliness, murder, adultery and budding teenage love could have easily turned into a melodramatic soap opera filled with completely unlikeable characters. However David Gordon Green once again expresses his genius by displaying human characters with real emotions. The film begins and ends with a montage of standard everyday activity in your standard American town, showing that these people aren't in extraordinary circumstances or any different from you or I. They are human, and they are very flawed.

Another genius decision by Green is who he decided to put in the middle of the film. In a story filled with such tragedy, it is surprisingly centered around Arthur (Michael Angarano), a young band member, and his budding romance with quirky new girl Lila (Olivia Thirlby). Their adorable friendship-turned-relationship is so sweet and pleasant that when they are on screen alone you completely forget about the chaos that is surrounding this town. At the beginning of the film we hear two gunshots as the band is preparing their big number for the football game at the end of the week. So from the start we know that this story is destined to end in tragedy. But in these moments with just Arthur and Lila being awkward and cute with one another, expressing their mutual attraction or making love for the first time, Green makes us believe that everything is right in this small town; if only for a moment.

Possibly the biggest story of the film is the destructive relationship of Arthur's co-worker (and former babysitter), Annie (Kate Beckinsale) and her unstable ex-husband Glenn (Sam Rockwell). Annie goes through the entire film taking one hit after another. She has so much on her plate, between raising a child alone, taking care of her mother and her affair with Nate (Nicky Katt) who is coincidentally her best friend's (Amy Sedaris) husband. Slowly everything in her world unravels until a point where she is nothing but an empty vessel of what may have been a happy woman at some point in her life, back when Glenn used to make her life. Glenn himself is an absolute wreck in every aspect of his life. On the surface he appears to be a despicable, hypocritical character who preaches about how Christianity saves him but then falls right back into drinking and neglecting his daughter. However in the writing and in Rockwell's flawless performance he becomes one of the most sympathetic characters I've seen in many years. It's a film filled with real people who keep falling into horrific circumstances.

At the center of the entire film is Green's sensational writing and directing. But his brilliant work would be nothing without the astounding performances from the entire cast. Sam Rockwell is an actor who I admire passionately, but he still managed to surprise me with his portrayal of Glenn. Rarely have I had such an emotional connection with a character to the point where I cry when he does and when he does something that I know is wrong, my stomach clenches in fear of what the consequences will be. His performance is a tour de force and one of the best I've seen this decade. Kate Beckinsale is also surprisingly fantastic. The role is very unflattering and at first glance her angelic beauty seems to be miscast, but she proves that external beauty can be nothing but a cover for someone who is slowly breaking to pieces inside. She is absolutely devastating, and explosive, throughout the film. However the most surprising of the cast is the young Michael Angarano who nails the role of Arthur with a reserved, internal anguish that is barely let out on the surface but is always clearly dwelling underneath. It's a trait that I could relate so well with and I was amazed at how well he captured this performance. Olivia Thirlby, one of my favorite young actresses, is also phenomenal as the unique, adorable young photographer who gets Angarano to fall for her; it's easy to see why.

As almost everyone says, Snow Angels is an incredibly difficult film to watch, but one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had. Everyone who contributes in the film is at the very top of their game and it combines for something unlike anything I've ever seen. Green is clearly one of the most passionate directors working today; he refuses to add a flare or flashy style to his films but in doing so makes his intimate relationship with his characters instantly recognizable. He is a man who cares so deeply about the people he is putting on the screen that he refuses to let anyone label them or imply anything about them. This film is many things; a tragedy, a tale of young love, a display of flawed human beings falling apart in a small town. Ultimately though, to me, it's a story of loneliness. Green shows early on that no matter what you have in your life, everyone is instinctively lonely. By the end he proves that without love or friendship, life can fall apart to results that you would never dream possible.