The Iceman (2013)
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.
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.
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
Cast
-
Michael Shannon
Richard Kuklinski -
Winona Ryder
Deborah Pellicotti -
-
-
-
-
-
ADVERTISEMENT
The Iceman Trailer & Photos
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.
Top CriticA 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.
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.
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.
It's a fascinating subject - the beast that lurks inside the family man - but the movie blows it.
It's often mesmerizing, primarily for Shannon's performance as a man who's a master of compartmentalizing ...
That The Iceman is a film eminently worth seeing is a tribute to Michael Shannon.
A brooding, neo-noir portrait of a psychopath who balances an apparently normal family life with a career as a cold-blooded hit-man.
[Shannon] almost convinces us that the Iceman's humanity was real.
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.
As ultra-efficient as its sociopathic subject, The Iceman knows exactly when to pull the trigger.
There is an enormous amount of effort put into this film which at its end just seems like noise, wind, and dust.
A world-class, no-frills crime yarn.
Getting to see Shannon boogie to Blondie is enough to warrant a stay of execution.
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.
Shannon's chilling performance paints such an uncompromising portrait of Kuklinski that the movie's confused attitude toward the character is even more confounding.
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.
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.
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.
Though the performances are stellar, especially Shannon, who is particularly chilling, I found "The Iceman" less than compelling.
This is not a pretty film to watch, but Shannon's devastating turn is well worth it.
Audience Reviews for The Iceman
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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 FreshThis 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."
What's Hot On RT
The Last Stand, Side Effects
Trailer for new Coen Bros movie
Rachel McAdams' time travel romantic drama
Blockbusters ranked!
Featured on RT
- Digital Multiplex: Warm Bodies and Aftershock 0
- See the Best-Reviewed in Summer Movie Scorecard 2013 0
- RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: The Last Stand and Side Effects 12
- Box Office Guru Wrapup: Star Trek Softer Than Expected at #1 85
- Weekly Ketchup: Will Smith to Star in Wild Bunch Remake? 39
- Critics Consensus: Star Trek Into Darkness is Certified Fresh 106
- Red Carpet Roundup: Star Trek Into Darkness Edition 0
Top Headlines
-
Which Film Franchise Has Been the Best for Female Characters?
0
-
Damon Lindelof Talks Tomorrowland
0
-
10 Movies About Really Fast Cars
0
-
Poltergeist Remake Synopsis Hints at Plot Differences
1
-
Kristen Wiig Says Welcome to Me
0
-
David Fincher's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Gets Bumped
0
-
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance Remake in the Works
0
Fresh Links
Featured
Star Trek Movies Ranked
HitFix offers their own take on the worst-to-best of the Enterprise crew's cinematic adventures.
Top 10 Star Trek Villains
Rolling Stone unveils the Enterprise's most irksome adversaries.
Celebrity Yearkbook Flashback
We'll bet you never realized how many stars were cheerleaders and high school athletes!
50 Most Classic Movie Moms
In celebration of Mother's Day, TimeOut offers up 50 iconic matriarchs from the big screen.
Weirdest Movie Siblings
From Twins to The Royal Tenenbaums, Moviefone explores cinema's oddest siblings.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter!
Spice up your feed with hourly Tomatometer updates!
