Snow Cake is one of those hokey dramas in which a disabled person reveals life lessons to the nondisabled, said Stephen Holden in The New York Times. Alan Rickman plays Alex, an Englishman who befriends Linda (Sigourney Weaver), a functioning autistic woman whose tics and obsessions give the actress a reason to flex her acting muscles. The plot is light and the lessons commonplace, but this independent film 'œpartly camouflages the banality of its concept with its meticulous performances.' Weaver's extensive research for the role results in a highly accomplished portrayal of autism, said Stephanie Zacharek in Salon.com. 'œYet the performance feels like a stunt, not a true marvel'”a case of an actor playing a condition, not a character.' It's understandable that Weaver would want to stretch her image a bit. But when the powerful, sensual actress we loved in Alien and Working Girl plays a weaker woman, it feels like a real loss. A movie like Snow Cake bears no resemblance to real life, said Stephen Whitty in the Newark, N.J., Star-Ledger. It does, however, have a lot in common with all the other bland indie films in which characters 'œair their messy problems in loud, tearful monologues.' Don't people make low-budget art films to escape clichés like these?
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