Snow Falling on Cedars
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Movie Reviews of Snow Falling on Cedars
Movie Review: Inexplicably Ignored at the Oscars
Summary: 5 Stars
Honor and justice, the effects of prejudice, and most importantly the need for truth; all elements that bind us together as a community of Man, or threaten to tear us apart, depending upon the circumstances at hand, and how we, as a society approach them. What it all comes down to is having and living by a moral code, and applying that code objectively, especially in troubled times. And the real question is, when the time comes, are we as a people capable of achieving that objectivity that is imperative in assuring true justice for all? It's an important, legitimate question posed by director Scott Hicks in "Snow Falling On Cedars," a very real and personal drama, that in the final analysis has a bearing of monumental proportions that ultimately defines who we are and what we are made of, while ascertaining whether or not we do, indeed, have the moral courage necessary to survive as a civilized species.It's a small town in the State of Washington; the ninth anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor is coming up, and a young man named Kazuo Miyamoto (Rick Yune), a much decorated American soldier during the war, is on trial for the murder of local fisherman Carl Heine (Eric Thal). Covering the trial is reporter Ishmael Chambers (Ethan Hawke), whose father, Arthur (Sam Shepard), had been a respected newspaperman locally for many years, known as a man who was not afraid to speak from his conscience when writing an editorial, and who took a stand for the Japanese locals during the emotionally exasperating years encompassing World War II.
Attempting to objectively cover Kazuo's trial, Ishmael finds himself troubled by a conflict of interests; he has a history with Kazuo's wife, Hatsue (Youki Kudoh), a former relationship reaching back to their childhood, but which ended with the onset of the war. And Ishmael still is grappling with the bitterness he has felt since that time, born of his experiences in the military, as well as Hatsue's rejection of him. And now he is forced to objectively observe this pivotal point in her life, watching from the sidelines and seeing first hand the effects of the prejudice that is very much alive among the local citizenry, and which threatens the assurance of an impartial judgment in Kazuo's case; a judgment that will determine the future of not only Kazuo, but of Hatsue, the woman Ishmael once loved-- and still does.
Working from an intelligent screenplay (by Hicks and Ronald Bass, adapted from the novel by David Guterson), with this film Hicks demonstrates the difference between a visionary filmmaker and someone who just makes movies. In another's hands, because of the story itself, this would have no doubt been an excellent film; with Hicks directing, however, it becomes something much more, as he has taken it beyond excellent, crafting and delivering a film that is thoroughly mesmerizing, majestic and memorable. It's an accomplishment achieved through a visionary presentation, born of the director's sensitive approach to the material and his acute insights into the human condition. Fully utilizing all of the magic at his disposal, Hicks has taken a good film and turned it into an emotionally involving, inspirational and visually poetic experience.
With a haunting score by James Newton Howard underscoring the magnificent cinematography of Robert Richardson, Hicks brings the era and the rural splendor of Washington State vividly to life, creating an aesthetic ambiance that makes the emotional essence of the drama almost tangible; and by exacting some incredible performances from his actors, he sustains that emotional level and combines all of these elements to make this film riveting and unforgettable.
As Ishmael, Ethan Hawke gives a reserved, understated performance, through which he genuinely captures the essence of his character. Watching him, you can sense the turmoil of a soul at cross purposes with itself, and he enables you to sample that taste of bitterness toward life he so desperately needs to overcome if he is to move on within himself to greener pastures. With this role, Hawke was given the opportunity to do something fine, and he succeeds with one of his most memorable performances yet.
Youki Kudoh turns in an extremely affecting performance, as well, as Hatsue. With this moving portrayal of a young woman enduring unbearable inner turmoil, she fulfills the artistic promises made in previous films, such as "Mystery Train" in `89, and "Picture Bride," in 1965. She's a terrific actor, whose eyes are truly a window to her soul.
Also adding to the success of this film are the supporting efforts of Richard Jenkins, as Sheriff Moran, and James Rebhorn as prosecutor Alvin Hooks. But the most notable performance of all comes from Max von Sydow, who as Kazuo's defense attorney, Nels Gudmundsson, is given an opportunity to return to the kind of role that shaped his career early on under the auspices of Ingmar Bergman. As Nels, von Sydow gives a performance made all the more powerful by the restraint and subtlety of his delivery. He takes what to most actors would be a good part, and makes it a cohesive element of the film. It's a performance that by all rights should have earned von Sydow an Oscar nomination, but sadly did not.
The supporting cast includes Reeve Carney (Young Ishmael), Ann Suzuki (Young Hatsue), James Cromwell (Judge Fielding), Ariia Bareikis (Susan Marie), Celia Weston (Etta) and Daniel von Bargen (Carl). In a year (1999) that saw lesser efforts acknowledged, "Snow Falling On Cedars" was inexplicably ignored at Oscar time (except for Richardson's most deserving nomination for cinematography); an injustice, to say the least, as this was clearly one of the best films of the year. Reminiscent of Ang Lee's artistry, yet with a style uniquely his own, Hicks has given us a poetic film of rare beauty and conscience, for which he is hereby granted an Award in it's purest form: The gratitude of an appreciate audience.
Movie Review: Beautifully crafted and compelling story
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a magnificent adaptation of David Guterson's acclaimed book. Director Scott Hicks took on a gargantuan task in attempting to make the book into a film, not only because it was so powerful and well received, but because it was so lengthy and daedal. The result, however, was one of the best films I have seen in quite some time.There were really three stories intricately interwoven into one. The main story was the trial of a Japanese American for the murder of a fisherman who owned the land wrongfully taken from the accused's father. The other two stories provide insight into critical events affecting the trial. The first involves the childhood love affair of local newspaperman Ishmael (Ethan Hawke) and Hatsue (Youki Kudoh), who is now the wife of the accused. He has uncovered information that can aid the defense, but his resentment for having been jilted by Hatsue stands in the way of his bringing it forth.
The second ancillary story is the persecution of Japanese Americans and Japanese immigrants during World War II. We see depictions of hatred and bigotry, as law abiding Japanese citizens are shamelessly herded into internment camps. This seething animus serves as the psychological backdrop for the trial, which occurs in the early 1950's when the memories of the war and lost loved ones is still fresh.
From a directorial and cinematography perspective, this film was nothing short of a masterpiece. It is a cinematic work of art. Between Hicks' brilliant camera perspectives and Robert Richardson's beautiful lighting and earth tone coloring, the film was resplendent in powerful and stirring images. Many were so artistically done that if made into snapshots they could easily hang in any art gallery. Each shot was meticulously thought out. Many involved complex shots through windows, silhouette backlighting, elaborate blocking, and scenes where actors, props and camera were all moving in different directions to create fabulously fluid perspective shots that slowly unfolded to revealed the scene's full content.
The editing was also fantastic. I have seen comparison's between this editing and `The Limey'. While there is some similarity in technique, this was far more elegant and flowing, whereas "The Limey" was jumpy and disconnected. This style of editing was absolutely necessary to adhere to the book's non linear format. Hicks needed to insert scenes that explained the feelings and motivations of the characters, and the only way to do this was with flashbacks and jump cuts. Despite the fact that such editing is disconcerting to a large majority of viewers, it was an artistic decision that was exactly right for the story, and seamlessly done. The same is true of the audio overlays with monologues of characters superimposed on one another, giving great power and emphasis to certain of the characters' lines.
The story itself, with all of its components, was engaging and well crafted. Unfortunately, there was not enough time to develop more of the characters. The scenes depicting the herding of the Japanese out of their homes for relocation were chilling. The courtroom scenes were realistic, not forsaking court procedure for dramatic effect, as is so common nowadays. The love scenes were sensitive, romantic and passionate without the need for sexual explicitness.
From an acting perspective, this was more of an ensemble production. All the actors gave wonderful performances, especially Youki Kudoh, who was torn between her love for Ishmael and her loyalty to her family and traditions. Kudoh was so emotionally involved with the part that she actually began crying during the featurette when recalling one of the scenes. Screen legend Max von Sydow was also fantastic as the aging defense attorney fighting and pleading for justice amidst the racial hatred.
This is a beautifully crafted film with a compelling story. It is a filmmaking 10/10. It has unfortunately not found a wide audience since its strongest elements are not areas of mass appeal. For the refined viewer who can appreciate filmmaking as an art, and enjoy an intriguing but deliberate story with exquisitely woven subtleties, this film is a delight. For those who prefer Hollywood's movie success formula of fast paced linear stories with lots of violence, profanity, clever one liners and raunchy sex, this film will bore them to death.
Movie Review: Filmmaking at its Indisputable Finest
Summary: 5 Stars
Summing up this movie in a review is, to me, an exercise in futility. Its brilliance can only be appreciated if you take the time to immerse yourself in the film & peel away the layers of this onion yourself.
It'll help if you know, going into this movie, that the story doesn't form a linear timeline. Rather, it intersperses montages of shots from events of the characters' lives spanning many years. It's up to you to build the narrative.
The muted colors, the brilliant yet chilling soundtrack, the snow, the mist... reflect the muted emotions displayed by the characters. The cinematography & the 'floating' feel to most of the shots are so beautiful in & of themselves that you may find yourself easily lost in these brilliant textures. The montages, though argued by some to detract from the continuity of the movie, help draw you into narrative as you interpret each shot & its meaning in the context of the story & of the particular protagonist in the shot. In fact, each shot is so well calculated that upon multiple viewings, you uncover the significance of shots that may have slipped by unnoticed on the first viewing. Some of the brilliance of these montages lie in the way events are juxtaposed; for example, ponder the significance of the shot of Ishmael holding & supporting Hatsue with both of his hands as they walk on logs interspersed on the beach, immediately followed by a shot taken decades later where, in the same setting, Ishmael reaches out with but one hand, ultimately unable to even grasp the now married Hatsue. Heart-wrenching. Or the interspersion of Hatsue's words, in her 'final letter' to Ishmael, ringing in Ishmael's ears as he inevitably (or did he choose to?) becomes a part of war events that leave him wounded... ultimately leaving him with a permanent indelible scar that he can only associate, for the rest of his life, to the loss of his love.
While the story itself has many elements, including those of racism (& one of America's darkest most shameful moments in history: the rounding up & internment of Japanese during World War II), greed, the fragility of friendships, acceptance, etc., the heart of the story revolves around the tragedy of unrequited love, and the turning point often necessary for each & every one of us to overcome some obstacle or obsession in our lives. In that sense, the movie itself is a brilliant character study; however, know that while the story really only has one main protagonist (Ishmael), you are really able to understand & feel the emotions of almost every character in this movie (each actor/actress exudes that much brilliance).
Suffice it to say: one could enjoy this movie for years & years to come. I myself have found that watching it again every now and then allows me to interpret the actions & thoughts of the characters somewhat differently almost every time, based largely upon my own personal growth from past events and/or events in my life that have transpired since my last viewing. It's as much a story of personal growth & acceptance as it is a story of letting go. Almost anyone will be able to empathize with, if not even personally identify with on some level, the protagonists of this film. And a movie/story that can engage & touch you the way this movie does is nothing short of incredible.
On a very related side note: I find it an absolute travesty that this movie has not been released on Blu-Ray. Not only that, but now the DVD has also been discontinued? It's a crime to let a work of art of this magnitude slip into the shadows. Is there any way we can vote for this to be released on Blu-Ray?
Movie Review: Being Hurt and Being Human
Summary: 5 Stars
I read a review of this film a few years ago who's title was "Snow Falling Very Slowly on Cedars". It is somewhat appropriate, I guess, especially with today's instant gratification society coming to the forefront. With stellar action sequences in films like Star Wars and the like, films that build on characters and their lives tend to get less-than-gratifying reviews. Add to this that this film had quite a few historical references in it, and you've doomed it to be a "ploddingly slow film".
But nothing could be further from the truth...
The textures of this film are pretty darn impressive. There's a love story, a murder investigation, beautifully sculpted scenery (at sea and on land), war, concentration camps in America (disguised as "relocation camps"), prejudice, and a court battle, all rolled into this one simple film. And, quite amazingly, the film doesn't unravel. With all of these layers, the director (Scott Hicks, Shine), pulls off a stunning feat of visual candy and artistic sound.
The story is based on David Guterson's best selling novel by the same name, and Mr. Guterson was directly responsible for the script writing of the film (which is probably why the movie held together so well). It takes place in the 1950's where Kazuo, a Japanese-American, is on trial for the murder of Carl Heine, a white Norwegian fisherman. Coming off the heals of WW II, the trial is ready to ignite into a free-for-all of racial tensions. Americans still scorn all the Japanese for the destruction of Pearl Harbor (doesn't matter if you were a U.S. citizen at the time or not), and the Japanese-Americans remain bitter for being forced into "relocation/internment camps" in California and beyond (many Japanese-Americans lost everything they had during these "relocations"). But tempering the heat of the trial is a terrible blizzard raging around this small island in the San Juans (Washington State) where the story unfolds.
The film brushes us back and forth between the trial of Kazuo, WWII (during which Kazuo was a soldier fighting for the U.S.), a love story between an American boy, Ishmael (Ethan Hawke) and a VERY pretty Japanese girl named, Hatsue (Youki Kudoh), who will eventually forsake their young love and marry the very man who is on trial for murder, Kazuo.
Ishmael loses his right arm in the war and comes back doubly embittered at life. Not only did Hatsue leave him for one of her own, but a Japanese battle caused the loss of his limb. Now he's on the little island and covering the trial as a newspaper reporter, and his memories of the past intrude on the trials machinations. When he discovers some information that could clear Kazuo of the crime, can he let that information come out? Or will his battle-worn heart, soul, and body prevent it? Or perhaps his aching love of Hatsue will stop him (hoping that Kazuo is found guilty and sent away, thus allowing him to have a second chance at Hatsue)?
As you can see just from this simple review, the layers go deep, cutting, biting, and tearing into the flesh of the characters, all of whom are flawed, broken, and, quite possibly, reborn again as a full human being.
Notable amongst the cast is Ethan Hawke as Ishmael, Yoki Kudo as Hatsue, Max von Sydow as Nels (the curmudgeonly but affable defense attorney), James Cromwell as the sympathetic Judge Fielding, and Sam Shepard as Arthur Chambers (Ishmael's father and mentor).
A must see film for those interesting in characters, their flaws, their successes, and just being true to the human spirit.
Movie Review: Haunted by the past / poetic film - overwhelming photography
Summary: 5 Stars
'Snow Falling on cedars' -adapted from David Guterson's novel- is about a murder trial, about racism and about a love that couldn't last. I like the story as it is being told by director Scott Hicks. He seems to work like a musician, as a composer with a magic hand for telling a multilayered story in a perfect pace, just like the way themes develop and grow in good symphonic classical music. Scott Hicks also seems to have the hand and eyes of a painter and the imagination of a poet. Proof of this is the overwhelmingly beautiful photography of the film and the way the imagery blends perfectly with the beautiful music of James Newton Howard.
'Snow falling on cedars' is set on an American island in the straits north of Puget Sound, in Washington, with a large Japanese-American community. Everyone on this island is either a fisherman or a berry farmer.
At the core of 'Snow falling on cedars' lies a dramatic love story. It focuses on the most painful loss for a human soul to endure. Imagine yourself living in a small community where you are confronted every day with someone who once dearly loved you, but, due to extreme circumstances -in this case World War II- had to leave you and eventually married someone else... and you've never stopped loving that person. Whereas a deceased beloved person becomes a closed book, containing memories of the past, a living beloved one you see every day, but you can't reach anymore, causes probably a deeper trauma of loss. A trauma that can rip a man's heart and soul apart. We see this happen in 'Snow falling on cedars'.
The story gives us a deep and subtle look into the human heart of main character Ishmael Chambers (played very well by Ethan Hawke), a journalist who has never overcome a passionate love relationship in his teenage years with the Japanese girl Hatsue Imada (played very well by Youki Kudoh), who -according to her tradition- has married a Japanese guy. Hatsue's husband, fisherman Kazuo Miyamoto, stands on trial for the murder of fisherman Carl Heine. Kazuo's case looks bad and it's 1951, six years after the end of World War II, and nine years after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbour. Japanese-Americans were moved to internment camps during the war. In 1951 many Americans still frown upon their Japanese 'fellow americans' as a not trustworthy 'former enemy'. So ethnicity and racial convictions -although not outspoken- could play a role in the verdict of the jury.
Ishmael unravels the case and his findings will be crucial for the fate of Kazuo Miyamoto. While the trial is going on, we learn at the same time in many flashbacks about Ishmael's past love affair with Hatsue.
Don't miss this great movie and watch how main character Ismael Chambers finds the strength to show how gentle and generous the heart of a man can be. For all those with a sensitive mind and heart 'Snow falling on cedars' will be a feast for the senses, and of course nothing less can be expected from a true masterpiece.