Snow Falling on Cedars
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Movie Reviews of Snow Falling on Cedars
Movie Review: Romance, Murder, and Post-Pearl Harbor Race Relations
Summary: 5 Stars
With the serene backdrop of snow (a metaphor for recovering the purity and innocence of youth)lightly falling on majestic cedars, this work is an awesome example of cross-genre writing: although presented as a murder mystery, its deeper tale is about the nobility of love and resisting hypocritical racial peer pressures. Playwright and actor Sam Shephard, the father of less-than-war-hero Ishmael Chambers (played by Ethan Hawke), is the noble newspaper man who resists Japanese race-baiting in the wake of Pearl Harbor.Max Von Sydow is perfect as a, well, brilliant defense attorney nearing death; on his last legs, he says irreverent things a younger lawyer wouldn't, and even the judge has to pay attention. The acting is uniformly excellent, down to the falling of tears which parallels the same graceful trajectory as the snow. Indeed, given the constraints of the marketplace, and what it sets out to do, this is a perfect film. It combines the tried and true (for example, flashing back from a courtroom case to reveal the plot), with the new (using the murder mystery itself as a hook to explore the recent history of race relations). The forbidden love affair between the American boy and the Japanese girl makes this work also a kind of tragic romance on the model of Romeo and Juliet, but with prodigious race relations rather than more local familial feuds providing the barrier. In the end the film is more literary than knock-down bang-'em-up, more about race and time and rebellious puppy love than murder or storybook romance. But in my mind that's a good thing. And despite the slow-sounding title, I doubt many will be bored.Movie Review: Lush And Moving.
Summary: 5 Stars
"Snow Falling On Cedars" is a beautifully composed film about obsession, heartbreak and history. Director Scott Hicks delivers a film of enormous scope and beauty with memorable characters and a plot that is intricate and unweaves itself as the movie pushes forward. Those here who have bashed the movie apparently have no love for cinema or grandiose images. If you don't like art, don't see this film. Hicks excels here in the way the images don't interrupt the narrative, instead they flow with it. Cinematographer Robert Richardson paints here with lush colors, using the myst and snow to create emotion and lets the image bring out the moods of the characters, of the story. The editing can create a visceral experience enhanced by the epic, almost operatic score by James Newton Howard. Single images stick in the mind. The screenplay by Hicks and Ron Bass is eloquent and reaches out to the farthest reaches of classic romanticism, there are moments of pure emotion, sometimes brought about by images and sometimes just by words. "Snow Falling On Cedars" has the kind of classic storytelling missing in a lot of modern romances. It seems to me a lot of the critics here would probably prefer oversexed dribble instead of something with real heart. The performances are superb all around and the production design of the film is flawless. This is a lush tapestry of a love story, framed by wonderous cinematography. An underappreciated masterpiece, ignore the party poopers and check it out.Movie Review: This is by far one of the most beautiful films ever made.
Summary: 5 Stars
If there ever was a film that was close to perfection, I would say Snow Falling On Cedars is about the best contender. I have yet to see a heavy duty drama with such incredible cinematography, music and storyline. The plot is so well executed by telling the story in partial flashbacks, that the characters mold perfectly before your eyes. The music alone could speak for the scenes in this film. The acting is so poised and penetrating, that you feel like you are interacting on a personal level with the players, rather than just observing them. I won't give the plot away. But what I will tell you is that this film's social message is very strong and not one we usually hear about. Perhaps because it is such a scar on our nation's past. Snow Falling On Cedars is a film as far as medium is concerned. But when watching it, I felt I was looking at a painting and reading a poem. This is a drama which words can do no justice to. Like he did in Shine, Director Scott Hicks once again waves a magic wand which conjures the most dazzling performances out of his actors. There is a balance in this film between cinematography, music, sound and performances that I have never seen before- and that's coming from someone as hypercritical as myself. By far the first thing audiences will notice in this film is the cinematography. If it does not take your breath away, then you must already be dead.Movie Review: Poetry In Motion!
Summary: 5 Stars
It frustrates me that people I've shown this movie have found it satisfactory, or even DULL. I know that people react to films differently based on their personality and what their expectations are. Personally I hate big-budget epic films with loads of effects and weak characters & plot. And since Hollywood makes great money off of those kind of movies, that seems to be what the general public wants."Snow Falling on Cedars", I will admit, has a rather basic story, but it's a powerful one that is important to help future generations appreciate the time period. The music is chilling, haunting, and very powerful (I even bought the soundtrack). But what I really want to get to is the LOOK of this picture.
The effects and transitions used in this film are gorgeous. What I mean by effects is mostly camera tricks and editing (not CGI etc). Every scene is shot like a painting that could be framed. The lighting, the angles, the AMAZING transitions are stunning. Director Scott Hicks took the novel and used the medium of film in a most unique way to convey a story. There are so many stunning sequences that truly are poetry in motion.
So why should you see the film? Well executed, superb cast, and a story that should be told for future generations. The DVD has a VERY insightful commentary. Enjoy this masterpiece!
Movie Review: A movie in love with existence
Summary: 5 Stars
Do you know how you come across those people who are so graceful, so exuberant, & so amzing that they make most people seem like zombies? Well that's what this movie does to other films. This is a film desperately in love with being alive. Every camera shot, every sound effect, every close-up seems to give the viewer a new perspective, a new take on life. For me it's one of those life-changing things.The story is somewhat heavy-handed in parts: the director never really gives you a realistic Japanese perspective on the horror of being ripped from their homes & being sent to relocation camps (and, frankly, given that 40 million people died in WWII & tens of millions more lost everything they owned, it seems almost miniscule). And while the prosecution's closing argument basically amounts to 'convict him because he's Japanese', the defense's closing argument seems equally inept: 'acquit him because he's Japanese.'
But these are minor issues indeed. The story moves past these quickly and makes a far better argument against prejudice in the protagonist's personal story. And IT IS an amazing story.