The Ice Harvest (2005)

Reviewer: Scott Nehring


Should I see it?
No.


Director: Harold Ramis
Written by: Richard Russo and Robert Benton
Starring: John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Oliver Platt and Connie Nielsen

Rated R for language, nudity, sexuality and violence


But or Rent This Movie Here


While humorous in places, this dark comedy about a mob lawyer (John Cusack) who after stealing $2 million from a mob boss is stuck waiting for an ice storm to blow out of Wichita, Kansas before he can take the money and run. Harold Ramis' direction of this adaptation of Scott Phillips' book, is likable but still lacking. Like his previous effort Bedazzled, he knows his way around a humorous situation but he can't close the deal when it comes to the more dramatic elements. The grizzly nature of some of the humor also cuts into Ramis' delivery. Billy Bob Thornton brings in his snickering, off-balance persona into play to great effect. Likewise, Connie Nielsen gives a good update to the femme fatale template with her alluring performance as a strip club owner.

This isn't a horrible film, its just not good enough to recommend. Life is too short to recommend lukewarm cinema.


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