The Ice Harvest

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The Ice Harvest

R

2005

1h 28m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

47%

Tomatometer

134 Reviews

43%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

As the attorney for a mobster (Randy Quaid), Charlie Arglist (John Cusack) has access to some not-so-clean money, which he readily embezzles with the help of an associate, Vic (Billy Bob Thornton). On Christmas Eve, the two partners decide to hightail it with the money, but an ice storm sweeping through the area delays their departure. Stuck in town, Charlie visits strip club owner Renata (Connie Nielsen) and lets on about the money. But the longer he stays, the more trouble builds.

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Critics Consensus

The Ice Harvest offers a couple of laughs, but considering the people involved, it should be a lot funnier.

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Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

01/03/2006

Robert Benton and Harold Ramis, put on dunce caps and go stand in the corner.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

12/21/2005

2/4

But these moments are few and far between, the majority of the picture nothing more than a nice idea tied to bits and pieces I've seen far too many times before in far better movies.

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

12/10/2005

2.5/5

... the film's difficult genre straddling never quite congeals.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

11/09/2023

1.5/4

Harold Ramis has gone from high-concept to no-concept. He confuses bared breasts, broken fingers and blown-out brains for edgy existential comedy in a conventional film-noir story that snappy quips from Oliver Platt and Billy Bob Thornton can’t save.

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Chris McCoy

Memphis Flyer

01/08/2020

Ramis' existential take on the material is strangely infectious. Life sucks, and all is corruption, he seems to say. We might as well have a laugh about it.

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

11/09/2019

[Harold] Ramis caters to the story and the actors with a style of old-fashioned directing that makes you feel comfortable watching the movie, even as the sarcasm devilishly spins and spirals into places one wouldn't normally dare to go.

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Kaley s

@RT78188266 12/23/2024

John cusack puts on an acting clinic in this film. People are mad it isn’t funnier but it’s a dark comedy and based in realism. And it’s fabulous. This is an every year Christmas watch for me and it absolutely is a Christmas movie!

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Allen R

@AL_SeesALotOfMovies 12/17/2024

A fun and very dark comedy with amazing performances.

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Jeremy A

@RT36671323 11/12/2024

I love this movie. Fun every time. Good cast. 4*

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Blu B

@RT43513976 08/24/2024

All the problems this has are in the first half. Mainly it is almost completely incoherent at times because it's so jumpy and the weird tone. This is a combination of a dark comedy and a Noir and can never figure out how to make the two work together cohesively. I will say the humor isn't terrible but almost all of it falls completely flat. The acting isn't bad though and is defintely the best part. Cusack is solid and the best thing in this and acouple others aren't bad or are just forgettable. The cinematography is ok. Shots are framed very well but sometimes it's lifeless and other times especially the first half it doesn't make any sense. Everything else is subpar. It jumps around terribly but it does suprisingly get better in the second half as it gets more focused. It's just a shame despite it being so short that it's a slog to get there. If only the first half was as focused this would have much more potential. Character motivations aren't clear, and again the editing is just terrible at times. Skip This.

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Geke g

@RT40239519 08/11/2024

Perfection and groundbreaking

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Munkhchimeg T

@RT64187897 08/11/2024

Very good movie. Has many plots and very interesting.

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Harold Ramis

Director

John Cusack

Charlie Arglist

Billy Bob Thornton

Vic

Connie Nielsen

Renata

Oliver Platt

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Randy Quaid

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Synopsis

As the attorney for a mobster (Randy Quaid), Charlie Arglist (John Cusack) has access to some not-so-clean money, which he readily embezzles with the help of an associate, Vic (Billy Bob Thornton). On Christmas Eve, the two partners decide to hightail it with the money, but an ice storm sweeping through the area delays their departure. Stuck in town, Charlie visits strip club owner Renata (Connie Nielsen) and lets on about the money. But the longer he stays, the more trouble builds.

Director: Harold Ramis
Producer: Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa
Screenwriter: Scott Phillips, Robert Benton, Richard Russo
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Focus Features, Bona Fide Productions
Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Sexuality|Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 23, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.8M
Runtime: 1h 28m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)