Snow Angels (2008)

In a small town in the winter, several broken lives interconnect with each other. Separated from her mentally unstable husband (Sam Rockwell), a woman (Kate Beckinsale) betrays her best friend (Amy Sedaris) by sleeping with her husband (Nicky Katt). A young boy (Michael Angarano) finds his first love (Olivia Thirlby) while his parents (Jeanetta Arnette, Griffin Dunne) struggle in an unhappy marriage. Based on the novel by Stewart O'Nan and adapted for the screen and directed by David Gordon Green. Green has a fine visual sense and is able to elicit some first rate performances from his cast. But it doesn't take long to figure out where this is going and how it's going to end up so it's the journey rather than the destination where the interest lies. Still, when it's over, it ultimately just seems so pointless. If we're going to be led down a depressing path, we should at least find some kind of understanding when we reach the end of the road. I don't want to sound negative about the film, it's really very good. It's just not good enough.