The Iceman Reviews
Bill D 2007
Super Reviewer
May 4, 2013
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.
anDy
Super Reviewer
September 11, 2012
The acting for the most part ranged from good to phenomenal, and the latter is mostly in part due to Michael Shannon's unflinching performance as an explosive serial killer who cares about very little in life. If anything, the movie is worth seeing just for him, but thankfully there is more to the movie than him. However, make no mistake, Michael Shannon is slowly paving his way to become one of the more important actors of our time, and with The Iceman, he channels the great mob movies of the past through minimalism and necessary explosion. Many actors could have failed to achieve the sense of feeling emotionless through nothing more than under acting or even not acting at all, but Shannon proves that you can always pick up something no matter what character you play. Most of the other actors do a good job as well, ranging from Winona Ryder's great attempt to slowly sneak her way back into the hearts of critics and movie goers, Ray Liotta doing what he does best and being an intimidating jerk with an iron fist, and a surprisingly great performance by Chris Evans who may not have stepped so far outside of his usual self until now.
The directing for the most part was outstanding, as almost every mood and emotion used was the right one, and almost every line spoken, no matter by whom, was spoken with the right accent, the right tone and the right feel. The movie had a nice, consistent tone that shimmered at all times, reminding us just what kind of a movie The Iceman truly is. Like Kuklinski and those he works with, however, the film, surprisingly with a lot of heart put into it, may have had a bit too much heart at times.
What I mean by this is that, while it is fantastic that a thriller is based so heavily on emotions and on a well paced feeling throughout, it may be based on it a bit too much. It ends a bit too quickly than it should, as if it couldn't hang onto itself and simply said "You want what you waited for? Here!", something the main character may have done with his short temper. Instead of lagging out the scenes, a few more flash backs could have been placed to keep it a relevant theme and to help the film stay on course just a little bit more. You only see one five second glimpse at Kuklinski's child hood, and while we got the message instantly just through this, maybe a little more insight could have helped the film a bit more. We're told and barely shown why Kuklinski is so lifeless, but a little bit more information could have made the climax of the film instantly more heart pounding.
Also, despite him trying his hardest and somehow not doing a bad job, it is just really awkward seeing David Schwimmer in this kind of a film. A number of us would laugh in the film every time he was even on screen just because of how out of place he seemed. Definitely a bizarre casting choice, and because the film had its own really smart and quick comic relief, particularly done by Kuklinski, even if Schwimmer was just there to lighten the mood just by sitting there, he wasn't needed. Still, he tried his hardest and still did an alright job, but it's still noteworthy when someone or something takes you out of the film in a bad way.
Overall, The Iceman is a pretty good thriller. It may not rank amongst the best of the best in its genre, but it does well as a modern day thriller thanks to its believability (for the most part) and its attention to detail. Had it had a little bit of patience with itself and let Shannon do all of the short tempered exploding rather than itself, the film may have escalated itself to the grande film it set out to be. While I wouldn't say it falls short or end abruptly, it just needed some fine tuning here and there. Shannon's performance is not to be missed, however, even until the very second where the movie is given a last minute second wind right at its final seconds, reminding you that, hey, acting can be so powerful that you may feel sympathetic for a guy who has boasted about killing over a hundred people. The Iceman should be seen for Shannon, for Ryder and Liotta finally having biggish roles that are well done, for Evans breaking out of his shell, and for a look into Vromen's possible future as an auteur film maker.
Final Rating: 7.7/10
The Iceman proves itself to be a worthy contender in the category of modern day thrillers, especially due to its artistic flair. The cool tones that wrap this movie up, ranging from olive greens, steel blues and autumn leaf browns, leave a warm sensation around the main character, Richard Kuklinski, who is anything but. Many thrillers try to be a little too slick both in story telling, editing and even cinematography, so it feels too artificial. The Iceman, however, feels like there was a lot of hard work put into it, and through that it feels much more humanistic. I was reminded a lot of Road To Perdition, actually, with The Iceman's pastel colours and well placed shots. Ariel Vromen successfully takes you back to a few decades ago with ease, and it wasn't just because of the feel of the movie.
The acting for the most part ranged from good to phenomenal, and the latter is mostly in part due to Michael Shannon's unflinching performance as an explosive serial killer who cares about very little in life. If anything, the movie is worth seeing just for him, but thankfully there is more to the movie than him. However, make no mistake, Michael Shannon is slowly paving his way to become one of the more important actors of our time, and with The Iceman, he channels the great mob movies of the past through minimalism and necessary explosion. Many actors could have failed to achieve the sense of feeling emotionless through nothing more than under acting or even not acting at all, but Shannon proves that you can always pick up something no matter what character you play. Most of the other actors do a good job as well, ranging from Winona Ryder's great attempt to slowly sneak her way back into the hearts of critics and movie goers, Ray Liotta doing what he does best and being an intimidating jerk with an iron fist, and a surprisingly great performance by Chris Evans who may not have stepped so far outside of his usual self until now.
The directing for the most part was outstanding, as almost every mood and emotion used was the right one, and almost every line spoken, no matter by whom, was spoken with the right accent, the right tone and the right feel. The movie had a nice, consistent tone that shimmered at all times, reminding us just what kind of a movie The Iceman truly is. Like Kuklinski and those he works with, however, the film, surprisingly with a lot of heart put into it, may have had a bit too much heart at times.
What I mean by this is that, while it is fantastic that a thriller is based so heavily on emotions and on a well paced feeling throughout, it may be based on it a bit too much. It ends a bit too quickly than it should, as if it couldn't hang onto itself and simply said "You want what you waited for? Here!", something the main character may have done with his short temper. Instead of lagging out the scenes, a few more flash backs could have been placed to keep it a relevant theme and to help the film stay on course just a little bit more. You only see one five second glimpse at Kuklinski's child hood, and while we got the message instantly just through this, maybe a little more insight could have helped the film a bit more. We're told and barely shown why Kuklinski is so lifeless, but a little bit more information could have made the climax of the film instantly more heart pounding.
Also, despite him trying his hardest and somehow not doing a bad job, it is just really awkward seeing David Schwimmer in this kind of a film. A number of us would laugh in the film every time he was even on screen just because of how out of place he seemed. Definitely a bizarre casting choice, and because the film had its own really smart and quick comic relief, particularly done by Kuklinski, even if Schwimmer was just there to lighten the mood just by sitting there, he wasn't needed. Still, he tried his hardest and still did an alright job, but it's still noteworthy when someone or something takes you out of the film in a bad way.
Overall, The Iceman is a pretty good thriller. It may not rank amongst the best of the best in its genre, but it does well as a modern day thriller thanks to its believability (for the most part) and its attention to detail. Had it had a little bit of patience with itself and let Shannon do all of the short tempered exploding rather than itself, the film may have escalated itself to the grande film it set out to be. While I wouldn't say it falls short or end abruptly, it just needed some fine tuning here and there. Shannon's performance is not to be missed, however, even until the very second where the movie is given a last minute second wind right at its final seconds, reminding you that, hey, acting can be so powerful that you may feel sympathetic for a guy who has boasted about killing over a hundred people. The Iceman should be seen for Shannon, for Ryder and Liotta finally having biggish roles that are well done, for Evans breaking out of his shell, and for a look into Vromen's possible future as an auteur film maker.
Final Rating: 7.7/10
May 2, 2013
In Ariel Vromen's "The Iceman,", we first meet Kuklinski as a young man out on a date with a woman destined to become Mrs. Kuklinski (Winona Ryder). She is shy and naïve, but ultimately won over by theman's charisma, devotion, and persistence. Incredibly, Richard was able to maintain a double life, never mixing his unwavering devotion to his family, and his work for the Mafia. Recruited by local Mafia boss Roy (Ray Liotta), Richard begins to make a name for himself as a hit-man for the mob. Our protagonist is an outsider however, a Polish American who can never be fully integrated into the Mafia. This is a character study of a man that you have seen before in a number of gangster films--the killer in black leather gloves, sporting a trench coat, and void of any emotion when committing murder. The litany of killings administered by Kuklinski is predominantly delivered via montages.
Kuklinski was an impenetrable individual, and Shannon does justice to the man with a suitably complex performance. Shannon does his best with the limited material, and Ryder is fine as Richie's oblivious wife. But their efforts are further undermined by the thin and very familiar script of a decades-spanning mob story. Unfortunately, besides seeing just how many era-appropriate hairstyles and beards its characters can model in one movie, this telling of Richard's story seems to care more about the body count above all else.
Claiming to have pulled off over one hundred hits to his name, Richard Kuklinski was a legendary mafia contract killer known for his intimidating stature, and his cold-hearted, nonchalant approach to murder. "The Iceman" is based on a true story, and is a fairly standard biopic that is only elevated by a gripping performance from Michael Shannon. Shannon's commanding performance is the overall highlight of the film-as the actor effortlessly transforms his character into a consistently engaging and genuinely frightening figure. "The Iceman" exhibits an array of methods Kuklinski employs to commit murder from the '50s until his arrest in the mid '80s. However, his method of freezing his victims is all but passed over, barely even mentioned. A minor detail perhaps, lost in the story line due to the ever-growing body count. But when your protagonist is a deranged killer, and nicknamed "The Iceman," it's a significant element of the story all but ignored, which led to his eventual undoing.
In Ariel Vromen's "The Iceman,", we first meet Kuklinski as a young man out on a date with a woman destined to become Mrs. Kuklinski (Winona Ryder). She is shy and naïve, but ultimately won over by theman's charisma, devotion, and persistence. Incredibly, Richard was able to maintain a double life, never mixing his unwavering devotion to his family, and his work for the Mafia. Recruited by local Mafia boss Roy (Ray Liotta), Richard begins to make a name for himself as a hit-man for the mob. Our protagonist is an outsider however, a Polish American who can never be fully integrated into the Mafia. This is a character study of a man that you have seen before in a number of gangster films--the killer in black leather gloves, sporting a trench coat, and void of any emotion when committing murder. The litany of killings administered by Kuklinski is predominantly delivered via montages.
Kuklinski was an impenetrable individual, and Shannon does justice to the man with a suitably complex performance. Shannon does his best with the limited material, and Ryder is fine as Richie's oblivious wife. But their efforts are further undermined by the thin and very familiar script of a decades-spanning mob story. Unfortunately, besides seeing just how many era-appropriate hairstyles and beards its characters can model in one movie, this telling of Richard's story seems to care more about the body count above all else.
April 24, 2013
It also kinda tickled me, even as I haven't seen Man of Steel yet, that much of the film gives Chris "Captain America" Evans (albeit in full long hair and beard 70's style) and Michael "General Zod" Shannon a kind of duo match-up.
For all the all-too-conventional screenwriting, Michael Shannon once again... there are no words. He's so alive and terrifying here that it's almost the quieter moments that he seems like he could POP at any second. I'm almost surprised any criminal would try and knock him down - if you strike this man down, or attempt to, he'll just bug-eye you to death. The film could have been something truly special of a director could match up Shannon's own daring with his performance (Liotta and Ryder are also very good here, though they have slightly more typical roles they never miss a beat and feel true every step of the way, for Ryder especially a tricky performance since she has to know 'something' is up, but still loves her husband so much that she can stay by him - partly perhaps out of fear of an unknown terror from his outburts, also just because he provides like any mob-connected person of interest). As it is, director Vromen is a competent craftsman, who I imagine one day could become a capable journeyman. If there's any real spark of something different stylistically, I missed it, though at the VERY end as bearded Shannon is talking to the audience, the lighting is special by making this a doomed monster on screen.
It also kinda tickled me, even as I haven't seen Man of Steel yet, that much of the film gives Chris "Captain America" Evans (albeit in full long hair and beard 70's style) and Michael "General Zod" Shannon a kind of duo match-up.
April 30, 2013
It could have been great- but It's too bad this one had to fall into the trap of poor directing and writing. The acting keeps it watchable but that isn't enough to give it a strong recommendation.
Robyn Nesbitt
May 2, 2013
In Ariel Vromen's "The Iceman," we first meet Kuklinski as a young man out on a date with a woman destined to become Mrs. Kuklinski (Winona Ryder). She is shy and naïve, but ultimately won over by theman's charisma, devotion, and persistence. Incredibly, Richard was able to maintain a double life, never mixing his unwavering devotion to his family, and his work for the Mafia. Recruited by local Mafia boss Roy (Ray Liotta), Richard begins to make a name for himself as a hit-man for the mob. Our protagonist is an outsider however, a Polish American who can never be fully integrated into the Mafia. This is a character study of a man that you have seen before in a number of gangster films--the killer in black leather gloves, sporting a trench coat, and void of any emotion when committing murder. The litany of killings administered by Kuklinski is predominantly delivered via montages.
Kuklinski was an impenetrable individual, and Shannon does justice to the man with a suitably complex performance. Shannon does his best with the limited material, and Ryder is fine as Richie's oblivious wife. But their efforts are further undermined by the thin and very familiar script of a decades-spanning mob story. Unfortunately, besides seeing just how many era-appropriate hairstyles and beards its characters can model in one movie, this telling of Richard's story seems to care more about the body count above all else.
Claiming to have pulled off over one hundred hits to his name, Richard Kuklinski was a legendary mafia contract killer known for his intimidating stature, and his cold-hearted, nonchalant approach to murder. "The Iceman" is based on a true story, and is a fairly standard biopic that is only elevated by a gripping performance from Michael Shannon. Shannon's commanding performance is the overall highlight of the film-as the actor effortlessly transforms his character into a consistently engaging and genuinely frightening figure. "The Iceman" exhibits an array of methods Kuklinski employs to commit murder from the '50s until his arrest in the mid '80s. However, his method of freezing his victims is all but passed over, barely even mentioned. A minor detail perhaps, lost in the story line due to the ever-growing body count. But when your protagonist is a deranged killer, and nicknamed "The Iceman," it's a significant element of the story all but ignored, which led to his eventual undoing.
In Ariel Vromen's "The Iceman," we first meet Kuklinski as a young man out on a date with a woman destined to become Mrs. Kuklinski (Winona Ryder). She is shy and naïve, but ultimately won over by theman's charisma, devotion, and persistence. Incredibly, Richard was able to maintain a double life, never mixing his unwavering devotion to his family, and his work for the Mafia. Recruited by local Mafia boss Roy (Ray Liotta), Richard begins to make a name for himself as a hit-man for the mob. Our protagonist is an outsider however, a Polish American who can never be fully integrated into the Mafia. This is a character study of a man that you have seen before in a number of gangster films--the killer in black leather gloves, sporting a trench coat, and void of any emotion when committing murder. The litany of killings administered by Kuklinski is predominantly delivered via montages.
Kuklinski was an impenetrable individual, and Shannon does justice to the man with a suitably complex performance. Shannon does his best with the limited material, and Ryder is fine as Richie's oblivious wife. But their efforts are further undermined by the thin and very familiar script of a decades-spanning mob story. Unfortunately, besides seeing just how many era-appropriate hairstyles and beards its characters can model in one movie, this telling of Richard's story seems to care more about the body count above all else.
May 6, 2013
I'm hearing Oscar buzz for Michael Shannon. He BLEW IT AWAY in Revolutionary Road. And I love anything "mob".
October 28, 2012
Focusing more on displaying Kuklinski as a sympathetic character rather than a brutal one is the film's biggest error, but the Iceman features performances that are too good to pass up, especially Michael Shannon's powerhouse portrayal of the contract killer.
Bill D 2007
Super Reviewer
May 4, 2013
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
If you want to see Captain America and General Zod selling ice cream together then this is the right movie for you!
May 2, 2013
Oh, and David Schwimmer too xD
Michael Shannon AND James Franco AND Chris Evans? Count me in!
Oh, and David Schwimmer too xD
