Rating: 
Summary: Good, not great
Review: Ethan Hawke plays Ishmael, a WWII vet who hasn't gotten over the loss of his first love, Hatsue, played by Youki Kudoh. Her husband is now on trial for murder and Ishmael is the town newspaperman. As we learn in endless moody flashbacks during the trial, the two were teenage lovers until she was shipped to a relocation camp and he went to fight in Europe. She was forced to break their engagement, and he nearly lost the will to live, after being gravely wounded on D-Day. Now, with the townsfolk full of anti-Japanese prejudice, it looks hopeless for Hatsue's husband. The wonderful Max Von Sydow shows off his acting chops as the husband's sympathetic attorney. He is the reason you care anything about the trial (the husband is a minor character) and he reminds you of Spencer Tracy in Inherit the Wind. Sam Shepherd, as Ishmael's father, is also wonderful. Kudoh is very good, displaying a wide range of emotions, but star Hawke is the weakest link in the film. He is wooden and bland, and never arouses any feelings of empathy. The first 45 minutes were filled with such tediously boring introductory scenes and flashbacks that I wanted to yell at the screen, "OK, I get it; now tell the story!" The basic story is very good, and would have made a decent movie of the week (90 minutes plus commercials), but at 2 hours and 8 minutes it, only made me restless. Yes, the wintery island scenery is beautiful; yes, young love is thrilling, and yes, war is ..., but timing is everything. This movie would have been so much better with a more charismatic male star (think: Brad Pitt or Matt Damon) and a lot more film on the cutting room floor.
Rating: 
Summary: Exquisitely Beautiful
Review: SFOC is an exquisitely beautiful picture. Cinematographer Robert Richardson who shot "The Horse Whisperers" does a phenomenal job of capturing the beauty of the Pacific Northwest winter. The film moves slowly from time to time like a walk through a beautiful art gallery and creates a meditative quality to the tale. Ethan Hawke is good as the conflicted Ishmael Chambers suffering from a wartime accident that left him with one arm, adjusting to life without his father, and carrying a torch for the Japanese girl who was his first love. Ultimately, this is a tale of sacrifice and true love. Sam Shepard as the father is wonderfully studious, a man of letters. Rick Yune as the Japanese man accused of murder is affecting and shows star quality in this performance. His wife, played by Yuki Kudoh, is also beautiful; her performance is touching. Max Von Sydow's final courtroom summation is one of the finest cinematic monologues you'll see. Director Scott Hicks who was making his first picture since the award-winning Shine did a great job with this lyrical tale. The DVD version doesn't offer a lot more, IMHO. Some of the alternate takes were hard for me to discern how they were different from the ones included in the film. Others seemed more obscure than illuminating. The commentary was interesting. I recommend this film on a patient night. With its wintery scenes, it's a nice change of pace in the sweltering summer. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: An anguished, unrequited love story...
Review: This is a love story about an American girl of Japanese descent and a white American guy, set before, during and after World War II, in the Alaskan Pacific Northwest. Ishmael and Youki were childhood friends who spent hours together playing in the forests. Many years later, before Ishmael is drafted off to war, they get engaged. Ishmael is wounded in Europe and loses his arm. While recovering in the hospital overseas, Youki sends him a letter terminating their engagement. The letter was sent from an internment camp.
After the war, Youki marries a Japanese American man. He is wrongfully accused of a murder. Ishmael, now a reporter, out of dedication to Youki, heroically investigates and solves the murder. It is clear that Ishmael is still passionate about Youki. He has had no other woman in his life. It seems that Youki has always loved Ishmael but has buried it.
Youki had terminated her relationship with Ishmael because of the difficulty of relations between white American and Americans of Japanese descent. Ishmael never accepted this but he accepted the fact that she was now married to someone else. Out of his dedicated love for her, he fights heroically to absolve her husband of the murder accusation.
I say Youki should have not have terminated the relationship. Lindy says, given the racial/social situation, Youki did the right think in dumping Ishmael.
The filmmakers seemed to borrow a little from "To Kill a Mockingbird," in the end. The whole Japanese-American community knows about Ishmael and Youki's youthful romance, and they know what he has done for her by saving her husband. In the final court room scene, all of the Japanese Americans in the spectators gallery stares at Ishmael in awe and silence.
The film is very well made. The cinematography is excellent.
Rating: 
Summary: Inexplicably Ignored at the Oscars
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful film in every way
Review: I find very few DVDs I would own but I do have this one in my collection. I feel it's one of the most beautiful films ever made. The story is sensitive and delves into the characters' emotions which are evident by simple expressions on their faces. Much of this movie is non-verbal and that is what makes it so intriguing, much like a foreign movie. Ideas are subtle rather than blatant and "in your face." The movie assumes its audience is intelligent and able to think a little. I can understand why younger people find the film boring and slow because it's so different from the Hollywood movies being pumped out today.
Rating:
Summary: The best movie ever!
Review: i loved this movie! it had a great cast. i expecially liked the acting(and looks) of the guy that played teh young Ishmel. the movie was so sweet! teh way Ishmel treated Hatsue was so sweet! i was crying during the movie. All i have to say is that if you don't watch this movie you will have missed out on a really great love story and i have to find out who the guy that played the young Ishmel and marry him!
Rating:
Summary: Poetry In Motion!
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: Flashes of brilliance permeate flawed film
Review: Halfway through Snow Falling on Cedars, I knew it was not a movie that would be easy for me to review. Writing is like most other tasks or crafts. Sometimes, you look at the job at hand and jump right in, knowing exactly where you are going. Other times, you don't know where to begin. So, let me begin with the easiest part - the story. Ishmael Chambers [Ethan Hawke] is a handsome man in his late 20s who runs the small town newspaper formerly published by his late father. The place is on a small island off the coast of Washington State. The main industries are fishing and growing strawberries.
One night a fisherman is found dead in the water not far from his boat. At first it appears to be an accident, but soon the suspicion of murder arises. You might think this to be the only major event to happen to the islanders in years, but you would be wrong. The year is 1948, the young men have returned from fighting in W.W.II, and the large local Japanese-American population has returned from a California concentration camp where they were kept for the duration of the war. It is a seldom mentioned fact that almost every American of Japanese descent was imprisoned during that time. It remains one of the saddest chapters in American history. When a young Japanese-American fisherman is accused of the crime, Ishmael has a major story to cover. It is not a happy event for him. The possibility of an unprejudiced trial seems unlikely, considering the bitter feelings that remain everywhere. Harder for him yet, the accused's wife is Hatsue [Youki Kudoh], who is the only woman Ishmael has ever loved. They kept their love a secret from their families, neither of which would have approved, from the time they were 13 or 14 years old. Racial prejudice was hard enough for the couple to bear, but it was the war that destroyed their affair. Suddenly, Ishmael has a ray of hope. What if the husband is found guilty? And yet, isn't there evidence to prove he is innocent? Director Scott Hicks has proved that he can be excellent. He directed Shine, for example. Here, he is teamed with cinemaphotographer Robert Richardson. Together they have produced one of the most visually artistic movies ever made. It is like looking at a series of painting by the masters. Yet it is though they became bewitch by their own creativity. As a result, Snow Falling on Cedars is an intellectual work. The problem occurs when this approach meets the story. Its plot, which begs for a really emotional telling, is overshadowed by perfectionism - the perfect lighting, the perfect framing, the perfect background, etc. You can, of course, become too painstaking in an endeavor, and often this makes the results seem somewhat mannered, artificial, and, worst of all, slow. That's the result in this movie. It's exquisitely beautiful and very, very, very slow. This all brings me back to why it was so hard to write this review, for Snow Falling on Cedars is both brilliant and disappointing.
Rating: 
Summary: empty
Review: Beautifully photographed but totally empty movie, which tries to fool you into thinking it's about something by using the tired old cliche of a trial and lots of flashbacks.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best
Review: This was truly one of the best films I have ever seen...a total experience...landscape of the Pacific Northwest, sensual flashbacks to young love, the incredible bigotry of Americans against Japanese Americans...a gripping story with some of the best acting by all characters. A movie that is as good as the book if not better. A must see.
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