Snowcake - a Movie Review
August 7th 2007 03:44
A brilliant if slow movie with a fantastic cast
Rickman gives yet another excellent performance
Snowcake is a glittering diversion from her career of late - a string of forgettable roles and even more forgettable performances.
Playing a high-functioning autistic woman, Weaver's performance is pure gold, and just why she was not nominated for SOMETHING is a concept I am presently struggling with. This is unquestionably one of the finest performances of her career - or ANY career for that matter - and extremely worthy of recognition.
From the moment she appears Weaver owns the picture
The introduction of Linda Hunt (Weaver) is the antidote for what ails the plot. Rickman's character is left reeling after Vivienne dies in a car accident (in his car!) and finds he must travel to visit her mother in order to deal with the inexplicable emotion he feels at the loss of this vibrant stranger.
The mother that he finds is hardly typical. Talking nineteen to the dozen, twitching and brimming with eccentricities, Linda Hunt is a charmer and Sigourney Weaver is to be congratulated for recognising the potential of this otherwise somewhat sticky role. Moreover we are indebted to her for bringing it to life with such tenderness, humour, respect and warmth.
Moss gives a solid and touching performance
Naturally by the end Rickman's character is healed and has formed a special (though supremely different) bond with both of the women brought into his life by the death of the stranger Vivienne, and the ethics of the conservative Canadian town in which the whole "Inspiring" muddle is set have been tested to their limits.
All in all the production is little more than a curio - take tissues - but even so it's impossible not to be delighted by it.
Young Emily Hampshire is a delightful surprise - an excellent performance
I can only express admiration for Weaver once more, along with my disgust that her remarkable performance was not recognised somewhere. Hopefully this is only a question of release dates (officially Snowcake was only released in the US in April of this year) and one of Hollywood's many many many cinematic award societies will put her on their lists of nominees.
In the meantime, watch this space. Another Sigourney Weaver movie is also generating Oscar buzz in the US at present - a comedy named The TV Set. Though there is no confirmed Australian release date, a review will follow shortly.
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