Subscribers Only Content Area

Home

New Movies

All Movies

New Videos

All Videos

DVD

Search

(About Our Ads) "SNOW ANGELS" (2008) (Kate Beckinsale, Michael Arnette) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Extreme Mild Extreme Heavy Heavy Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild Minor Minor None Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Moderate Extreme Heavy Heavy QUICK TAKE: Drama: Various couples experience differing stages of love and despair in a small Pennsylvania town. PLOT: Arthur Parkinson (MICHAEL ARNETTE) would seem to have a good life in the small Pennsylvania town where he lives. He's in the marching band, enjoys hanging out with his friend, Warren (CONNOR PAOLO), and has found himself smitten with transfer student Lila Raybern (OLIVIA THIRLBY). Yet, the fact that his parents, Louise (JEANETTA ARNETTE) and Don (GRIFFIN DUNNE), are breaking up and his dad is moving out has left the teen unsettled. His current coworker and former babysitter, Annie Marchand (KATE BECKINSALE), has her own issues. Despite being the parents to young Tara (GRACIE HUDSON), she and husband Glenn (SAM ROCKWEL) are estranged and he now lives with his parents. Following an unsuccessful suicide attempt, he's found both God and the bottle, all of which means he has conflicting reactions to learning that Annie is having an affair with Nate Petite (NICKY KATT). The fact that he's married to Annie's other restaurant coworker, Barb (AMY SEDARIS), only complicates matters. As Arthur deals with the breakup of his parents' marriage and his growing feelings toward Lila, Annie must contend with her affair as well as Glenn's attempts to work his way back into her life and that of their daughter, with all involved unaware of the consequences of their actions. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Older teens might, but unless anyone else is a fan of someone in the cast, it doesn't seem too likely. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For language, some violent content, brief sexuality and drug use. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: MICHAEL ARNETTE plays a high school teen who must deal with his parents splitting up. Despite that, he finds himself drawn to Lila (with whom he eventually has sex). He also uses profanity and briefly smokes pot with his friend Warren. JEANETTA ARNETTE plays his mom who kicks her husband out of their house. GRIFFIN DUNNE plays his professor dad who might be seeing another woman after moving out, and tries to convince Arthur that his breakup with Louise is not Arthur's fault. OLIVIA THIRLBY plays a transfer student and budding photographer who has a crush on Arthur and eventually has sex with him. KATE BECKINSALE plays Arthur's former babysitter and current coworker at a local restaurant. Estranged from her husband and being primary caretaker for their young daughter, she's having an affair with Nate, the husband to another coworker. She uses strong profanity and smokes. SAM ROCKWEL plays her estranged husband who found God and the bottle after an unsuccessful suicide attempt following Annie dumping him. He uses strong profanity, is jealous of Nate, and goes to desperate measures to try to get back into Annie and Tara's lives. GRACIE HUDSON plays their daughter who's too young to know what's going on. NICKY KATT plays a married man who's having an affair with both Annie and another woman (the latter with whom he might do drugs). He uses strong profanity. AMY SEDARIS plays his wife who's upset with both him and Annie, her coworker, when she learns of their affair. She uses profanity. CONNOR PAOLO plays Arthur's friend with whom he smokes pot. He also uses profanity and makes sexually related comments. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 41 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered. Sexually related dialogue is present, as is the sight of a high school couple starting to fool around. Off-screen sex and oral sex are implied, which also holds true for an adulterous couple. Violence includes a murder-suicide that occurs just off camera, some fighting, and some self-inflicted wounds. Some of that has bloody results, while those scenes and some moments of potential peril might be unsettling or suspenseful to viewers, while various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes. Characters smoke and/or drink, with one being intoxicated several times, while some drug use (pot) also occurs. Tense family and thematic material involves failed marriages and the death of a child. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, there's briefly some of that from fireplace flicker. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there are varying amounts of handheld camerawork in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Arthur has what looks like a beer at home. Although she doesn't know what he's talking about, Glenn tells his 4-year-old daughter that he used to drink beer, but doesn't anymore, and that she can tell her mother that. Nate has a beer. Glenn guzzles down his beer in a bar where others drink. Glenn has a beer and is intoxicated. A woman has pot in the car with Nate. Warren asks Arthur if he has any weed, Arthur says he does, and the two then share a pot pipe in the woods, with Warren saying doing that "beats the sh*t out of band practice" and one comments, "This is some good sh*t." Arthur's mom has wine. Glenn is drunk when he arrives at Annie's place, and Nate comes out with a baseball bat, but nothing happens between them. Glenn has many shots of booze in a bar, and is then intoxicated while carrying and drinking from a big bottle. We then see him carrying a pitcher of beer and drinking some of that. Arthur's mom has some wine by her. BLOOD/GORE Arthur cuts his finger in the restaurant and we see a little blood. Lila comments about fast food in the school cafeteria making her want to throw up, with Arthur then agreeing and saying he hates to throw up. Arthur's friend announces that he has to "take a dump." Glenn tells his daughter that he stepped in some "doggy doodoo." Glenn talks about a dog pooping on a carpet (as he tries to sell some stain-resistant carpet to two women), but one of the buyers says they're more concerned with leaking (presumably meaning urine). We see a dead deer in the woods. Glenn states that he has to "piss like a race horse." While intoxicated, Glenn repeatedly punches a tree with his bare fists, bloodying them. He then repeatedly bangs his head on his truck, and we later see a dried cut on his forehead. We see dried bloody cuts on Glenn's knuckles. Glenn briefly vomits into a sink. We see a little blood in the snow at a murder scene. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Referring to Lila and another girl, Arthur's friend asks who the two "sluts" are that like him (Arthur). We see Annie in bed with Nate (post-sex, and meaning she's having an affair with her co-worker's husband). We later learn he's also having an affair with another woman. Glenn won't let Annie be, especially when she doesn't want him around. Arthur is mad at his dad (about being seen with another woman). Arthur talks about having a crush on Annie when he was a kid. He says he saw her naked back then when he slid a mirror under the door and watched her shower (not seen). A person kidnaps and then murders another person. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" may be unsettling or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. Spoiler Alert: Arthur spots a young girl's body under the ice on a frozen lake. Glenn is drunk when he arrives at Annie's place, and Nate comes out with a baseball bat, but nothing happens between them. Spoiler Alert: Glenn gets a shotgun, goes to Annie's place, and waits for her to return. When she arrives, he pins her to a wall where he holds the gun on her. He then washes her feet (she being uncomfortable), and she kicks and hits at him, but he then grabs and has her by the throat. He then makes her walk outside, barefoot through the snow to the woods where he then aims the shotgun at her head. We then hear but don't see the shot, but then see him put a handgun in his mouth in his truck. From outside and behind the truck, we hear the shot and see it blast out the truck's back window (no blood). We see a full body bag being carried out of the woods. GUNS/WEAPONS Shotgun/Handgun: Used to threaten and kill another person, and to commit suicide. See "Violence" for details. As the high school marching band practices, they and others hear two distant gunshots. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "You better get your f*cking head and ass in place," "M*therf*cker," "F*ck you," "F*ck is that?" "F*cking dance, m*therf*cker," "Don't you f*cking listen?" "You f*cker," "Get the f*ck out of here," "All for talking sh*t to him," "I don't want to hear any more of your bullsh*t excuses," "Tastes like sh*t," "Just bullsh*t," "He's a sh*tty kisser," "I don't need this bullsh*t," "Born again bullsh*t," "Beats the sh*t out of band practice," "This is some good sh*t," "Don't you bullsh*t me," "Sluts," "Hosanna in the highest," "You were checking out her ass," "Hell yeah," "Friggin,'" "That sucks," "Cool beans," "I'm just freaked out," "I gotta take a dump," "I think he's a weirdo," "Screw-up" (noun), "Try decaf," "Buster brown," "Don't give me any of your crap," "I gotta piss like a race horse," "You think you're a badass," "Bitch" (thing), "C'mon, dude," "What sucks about you," "If I get off my ass," "Everything's all screwed up" and "You asshole." Annie's mom has a tattoo on her arm. Arthur talks about having a crush on Annie when he was a kid. He says he saw her naked back then when he slid a mirror under the door and watched her shower (not seen). JUMP SCENES The sound of several gunshots at the end of the film might startle some viewers. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A minor amount of suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 41 "f" words (3 used with "mother," 3 used sexually as are the terms "having" and "get some"), 12 "s" words, 2 slang terms using female genitals ("p*ssy"), 1 for male ones ("dingleberry"), 7 asses (2 used with "hole"), 3 damns, 2 hells, 1 crap, 3 uses each of "God" and "Oh my God," 2 of "G-damn" and 1 use each of "Jesus Christ" and "Oh God." SEX/NUDITY We see Arthur shirtless. Arthur's friend asks him if he swiped any of his dad's porn before he left (Arthur says one, but he doesn't know why), commenting on a title being "Triple P*ssy," with Arthur correcting him that it's called "Vagina Threat." Tara accidentally gets Glenn in the clothed crotch, with him saying (in a slightly pained voice), "That's daddy's dingleberry." We see Annie in bed with Nate (post-sex, and meaning she's having an affair with her co-worker's husband). He's shirtless and then seen in small leopard print briefs (he playfully asks her what she thinks of his "marbles" in the pouch), while she has on a top and the rest of her is under the covers. We see Warren making out with a girl. Annie playfully asks Arthur if he ever told his mom about the time he busted her (Annie) and Glenn in the kitchen (fooling around or having sex, when Annie was babysitting Arthur at a younger age). After coming up and doing some mock humping behind him in the restaurant (both are clothed), Barb jokes about Arthur needing a haircut, or else no one will want to fool around with him. As Annie walks away, Barb then playfully tells Arthur, "You were checking out her ass," adding that there's nothing wrong with that. For fun, Arthur and Lila look up "blow job" in the dictionary, with her reading something about fellatio and it possibly being an unpleasant experience, with Arthur playfully saying he begs to differ. Barb confronts Nate about hotel evidence she found and then asks, "Are you f*cking Annie?" with him replying why would he do that. Annie goes to a motel to have sex with Nate, but he's not there. Over the phone, Glenn asks Annie if she's "having" Nate and "Are you having sex with him in our bed?" Arthur and Lila briefly kiss. Warren jokes with Arthur that the latter was making love to Lila, talk of them being naked under the bleachers, and something about humping with their clothes on. We see a rear view of Glenn seated on a bed in his underwear. Annie tells Nate that Glenn was the only man she had ever been with (sexually) before him. About a tragedy and another woman Nate is having an affair with, Annie asks, "Were you f*cking her when it happened?" Arthur and Lila passionately kiss on a bed, and talks about having a crush on Annie when he was a kid. He says he saw her naked back then when he slid a mirror under the door and watched her shower. We then see Arthur shirtless and Lila removes his pants (down to his underwear), and sex is implied. The next morning, Arthur's mom notes his glow, comments on Lila having spent the night, and then jokingly says at least somebody's getting some action around there. Arthur then serves Lila breakfast in bed, and we see her in bed in her bra. He then has his marching band hat on as he crawls under the covers toward her from the foot of the bed, commenting on it being hard to get a good angle while wearing that helmet. She then says he could take it off, and we then see the pleasured look on her face (no sounds, but oral sex is heavily implied). SMOKING Annie smokes at least 5 times, Don smokes once, and Glenn's boss smokes several times. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Arthur's mom says tomorrow is going to be hard, and we then see why: His dad is moving out, and Louise tells Don that she doesn't want to hear "any more of your bullsh*t excuses." Arthur then overhears his mom tell his dad to be out of the house in the morning. That next morning, as Don is leaving, he tells Arthur it has nothing to do with him. Annie mentions she doesn't have time to worry if Glenn will try to kill himself again. Frustrated, Annie briefly yells at her daughter. Annie thinks that her mom blames her for everything bad that's happened. Over the phone, Glenn asks Annie if she's "having" Nate and "Are you having sex with him in our bed?" Arthur sees his dad with another woman and isn't happy about that. Annie yells at her daughter over some candy. Having a cold or the flu, Annie takes a nap, but when she wakes up, she discovers that Tara is missing. She frantically searches through the house and then outside, with many people then joining the town-wide search. Spoiler Alert: Annie learns that her daughter fell through the ice on a frozen lake and drowned. Others in the family also react to this news, including Glenn who goes off the deep end, saying Annie let his baby die (and things progressively get worse from there). We also see Annie crying at her daughter's grave. Arthur's mom tells him she got a letter from his dad, but tore it up. Glenn admits that he drove his car off a bridge when Annie left him in the past. Arthur is mad at his dad (about being seen with another woman). Annie pushes Glenn, wanting him to leave, followed by him pushing her to the ground. Spoiler Alert: Glenn gets a shotgun, goes to Annie's place, and waits for her to return. When she arrives, he pins her to a wall where he holds the gun on her. He then washes her feet (she being uncomfortable), and she kicks and hits at him, but he then grabs and has her by the throat. He then makes her walk outside, barefoot through the snow to the woods where he then aims the shotgun at her head. We then hear but don't see the shot, but then see him put a handgun in his mouth in his truck. From outside and behind the truck, we hear the shot and see it blast out the truck's back window (no blood). A dead man's parents appear distraught over his death. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Divorce. Affairs. Dealing with the unexpected death of a child. Suicide: Annie mentions she doesn't have time to worry if Glenn will try to kill himself again and Glenn admits that he drove his car off a bridge when Annie left him in the past. Arthur's mom telling him that it's easy to block out the things that upset us. VIOLENCE Mad at Annie for having an affair with her husband, Barb throws a plate at her. Jealous, Glenn kicks Nate's car. He then slaps and kicks at Nate, with Nate knocking him down. The two then struggle and exchange punches, while a worried Annie gets her handgun. Nate then gets control of Glenn in a headlock on the ground. While intoxicated, Glenn repeatedly punches a tree with his bare fists, bloodying them. He then repeatedly bangs his head on his truck, and we later see a dried cut on his forehead. Annie pushes Glenn, wanting him to leave, followed by him pushing her to the ground. Glenn breaks a window with his elbow to gain entry into a house. Spoiler Alert: Glenn gets a shotgun, goes to Annie's place, and waits for her to return. When she arrives, he pins her to a wall where he holds the gun on her. He then washes her feet (she being uncomfortable), and she kicks and hits at him, but he then grabs and has her by the throat. He then makes her walk outside, barefoot through the snow to the woods where he then aims the shotgun at her head. We then hear but don't see the shot, but then see him put a handgun in his mouth in his truck. From outside and behind the truck, we hear the shot and see it blast out the truck's back window (no blood). Reviewed February 29, 2008 / Posted March 21, 2008