When a traveling salesman decides on a lark to have his fortune told he is at first elated with the good news of a financial windfall, but the consequences are more than he bargained for: his prediction also includes his death at the year’s first snowfall.

CRITIQUE

First Snow is an intriguing slice of neo-noir about a smooth salesman (Guy Pearce continuing a successful career as a character actor trapped in a leading man's body) whose fate is determined one day on a fluke palm reading by an off-the-beaten-path seer (a sublime JK Simmons), and becomes paranoid/obsessed at learning he has until the first snow fall to live. A shrewdly paced and smartly written screenplay by newbies Hawk Ostby and Mark Fergus (the latter directing too boot) allows the right amount of suspense and taut tension to keep the viewer engaged until the bitter end.

Pearce’s acting has never been better as Jimmy, an ambitious but morally flawed tile salesman whose lies catch up to him and has able support from Piper Perabo as his long-suffering girlfriend and William Fichtner as a sales associate just as disillusioned. The creative team has crafted a well-taut morality fable with shades of Rod Serling and the plaintive, low-key yet unnerving score by Cliff Martinez and the desert settings underline the tension and ultimately the sadness for its anti-hero’s destiny.

THE VIDEO

First Snow is offered in both its theatrical 2.35:1 anamorphic and in a full screen 1.33:1 aspect ratio. This transfer offers crisp resolution making the blacks effectively nourish.

THE AUDIO

First Snow is presented English 5.1 Dolby Digital that has a clear and sharp tone. Optional English and Spanish subtitles are offered.

THE EXTRAS

Pitifully none except trailers for SOUTHLAND TALES, REVOLVER, URBAN JUSTICE, I KNOW WHO KILLED ME, SEPTEMBER DAWN, ANGEL-A, INTERVIEW, THE COMPANY, MEMENTO and THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES but oddly not even one for the film itself.

FINAL THOUGHT

For fans of neo-noir, First Snow is worth checking out.