Snow Angels

Snow Angels is the latest from David Gordon Green (All the Real Girls) about the intertwining lives in a small Midwestern town. There's Arthur (Michael Angarano who is in the upcoming The Forbidden Kingdom,) the young teenager who is experiencing his first romance with new girl, Lily (played by the talented Olivia Thirlby -- Juno's BFF in Juno,) while his parents are separating. His former babysitter, Annie (Kate Beckinsale), who works with him at a Chinese restaurant that lacks Chinese workers is unsure about her life with her separated husband and father of their child, Glenn (Sam Rockwell) and her co-worker, Barb's (Amy Sedaris), husband.
The beginning of the movie is so strong, right through the midpoint up until the final act where it tragically disintegrates. The strength of the movie comes from the performances, chiefly among them is Sam Rockwell who makes you fearful and sorry for Glenn, and how Annie might still try with him. Kate Beckinsale shines as Annie, a working mother struggling to balance her life and move up and on -- but who is not without flaws of her own, and Amy Sedaris is a nice ray of sunshine who gives scenes some comedy while remaining believable. Michael Angarano and Olivia Thrilby have excellent chemistry in their awkward teenage romance scenes that easily make up for the depressing drama that ultimately overwhelms the rest of the movie -- just hope that they don't end up like any of the adult couples around them. Another thing I really thought worked well was the way the back story was naturally and gradually revealed throughout the movie without it ever becoming stilted. While the devastating ending is foreshadowing at the beginning with the two gunshots, the conclusion is a little too dark and extreme to really fit with the rest of the movie. Nonetheless the small town drama and the connections between the characters, elevated by strong performances, is sure to captivate the audience, even if the ending doesn't. B+
As for the trailer... It reveals the midpoint with Annie's daughter going missing, but that isn't a huge spoil. It doesn't spoil any of the film's surprises or ruin any of the stronger moments made between the characters. So it that sense it gets a B, but it makes the movie look less entertaining than it is.
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