Opening

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—— A Green Story
—— Alyce Kills May 24

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Coming Soon

—— After Earth May 31
—— Now You See Me May 31
88% The East May 31
100% The Kings of Summer May 31

The Iceman (2013)

tomatometer

67

Average Rating: 6.2/10
Reviews Counted: 84
Fresh: 56 | Rotten: 28

While it deserved stronger direction and a more fully realized script, Michael Shannon's riveting performance in the title role is more than enough to make The Iceman recommended viewing.

64

Average Rating: 6.5/10
Critic Reviews: 28
Fresh: 18 | Rotten: 10

While it deserved stronger direction and a more fully realized script, Michael Shannon's riveting performance in the title role is more than enough to make The Iceman recommended viewing.

audience

74

liked it
Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 9,360

My Rating

Movie Info

Inspired by actual events, The Iceman follows notorious contract killer Richard Kuklinski (Academy Award (R) nominee Michael Shannon) from his early days in the mob until his arrest for the murder of more than 100 men. Appearing to be living the American dream as a devoted husband and father; in reality Kuklinski was a ruthless killer-for-hire. When finally arrested in 1986, neither his wife nor daughters have any clue about his real profession.(c) Millennium

R,

Mystery & Suspense, Drama

$0.8M

Millennium Entertainment - Official Site External Icon

Cast

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All Critics (84) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (56) | Rotten (28)

Shannon gets at his character's pent-up torment as well as his efficient disconnect. When his two worlds start to converge -- on his daughter's sweet 16th birthday, no less -- you feel for him.

May 17, 2013 Full Review Source: Denver Post
Denver Post
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A true-crime thriller directed with grit, gristle and punchy energy by Ariel Vromen, The Iceman is never less than fascinating, even if things get a little ham-fisted here and there.

May 17, 2013 Full Review Source: Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia Inquirer
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As the body count mounts, the movie begins to spin out of control, but Shannon and Vromen don't let it derail. Their focus keep things from melting down.

May 17, 2013 Full Review Source: Detroit News
Detroit News
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Michael Shannon is an overpowering actor, and in The Iceman, the best that he can do is wrestle the movie around him to a stalemate.

May 17, 2013 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail
Globe and Mail
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It's a fascinating subject - the beast that lurks inside the family man - but the movie blows it.

May 16, 2013 Full Review Source: Boston Globe
Boston Globe
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It's often mesmerizing, primarily for Shannon's performance as a man who's a master of compartmentalizing ...

May 16, 2013 Full Review Source: Seattle Times
Seattle Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

That The Iceman is a film eminently worth seeing is a tribute to Michael Shannon.

May 20, 2013 Full Review Source: Killer Movie Reviews
Killer Movie Reviews

A brooding, neo-noir portrait of a psychopath who balances an apparently normal family life with a career as a cold-blooded hit-man.

May 20, 2013 Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion
One Guy's Opinion

[Shannon] almost convinces us that the Iceman's humanity was real.

May 20, 2013 Full Review Source: Film International
Film International

Nobody would think to call The Iceman a romanticized version of anything, but when compared to the real-life story of Richard Kuklinski, this excessively brutal film comes off almost as gentle and dreamy-eyed as a Nicholas Sparks adaptation.

May 17, 2013 Full Review Source: Creative Loafing
Creative Loafing

As ultra-efficient as its sociopathic subject, The Iceman knows exactly when to pull the trigger.

May 17, 2013 Full Review Source: The List
The List

There is an enormous amount of effort put into this film which at its end just seems like noise, wind, and dust.

May 17, 2013 Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle
Austin Chronicle

A world-class, no-frills crime yarn.

May 17, 2013 Full Review Source: East Bay Express
East Bay Express

Getting to see Shannon boogie to Blondie is enough to warrant a stay of execution.

May 17, 2013 Full Review Source: NECN

The Iceman delivers a discernible chill in depicting the double life of a man who committed cold-blooded murder by day and served as a warm-hearted family guy by night.

May 17, 2013 Full Review Source: The Patriot Ledger
The Patriot Ledger

Shannon's chilling performance paints such an uncompromising portrait of Kuklinski that the movie's confused attitude toward the character is even more confounding.

May 17, 2013 Full Review Source: Mark Reviews Movies
Mark Reviews Movies

It's not a feature that lingers after it concludes, but considering the cliches available to the production, it shows some taste when it comes to goombah happenings.

May 16, 2013 Full Review Source: Blu-ray.com
Blu-ray.com

Shannon's approach to Kuklinski as a total brick wall -- refusing to give anything back to his co-stars -- is a fascinating performance choice, but even that can't juice up this dull slog through Mob-movie clichés.

May 16, 2013 Full Review Source: NOW Toronto

Michael Shannon has a valid claim on the title of the most interesting actor now working in American films, a judgment that is supported by his performance as Richard Kuklinski in the gangster film The Iceman.

May 16, 2013 Full Review Source: Canada.com
Canada.com

Though the performances are stellar, especially Shannon, who is particularly chilling, I found "The Iceman" less than compelling.

May 16, 2013 Full Review Source: Kaplan vs. Kaplan
Kaplan vs. Kaplan

This is not a pretty film to watch, but Shannon's devastating turn is well worth it.

May 16, 2013 Full Review Source: Kaplan vs. Kaplan
Kaplan vs. Kaplan

Audience Reviews for The Iceman

There's no originality in terms of style, but 'The Iceman' is a solid thriller that is mostly carried by Shannon's performance and an intense story. Expect an intriguing movie, but don't expect to be wowed.
May 12, 2013
Kase Vollebregt

Super Reviewer

Effective but one-dimensional docudrama about the notorious hitman Richard Kuklinski who went to prison in 1986 and died in 2006. Michael Shannon's performance is impressively intense but rather simple.
May 4, 2013
Bill D 2007
William Dunmyer

Super Reviewer

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Discussion Forum

Topic Last Post Replies
The Iceman made a decent debut... 7 days ago 2
Have they begun showing any Iceman trailers in theatres yet? 8 days ago 5
Winona Ryder 8 days ago 2
Guess they don't care about resemblance 16 days ago 5
Critics don't know their mob history very well 24 days ago 0

Latest News on The Iceman

May 3, 2013:
Critics Consensus: Iron Man 3 is Certified Fresh
This week at the movies, we've got only one new wide release in theaters, but it's a biggie: the...

April 29, 2013:
Michael Shannon The Iceman Interview
"It's based on a true story, but nobody really knows what the true story is."

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