The Ice Harvest

[Brian in Mesa]

The Ice Harvest

Release Date: November 23, 2005
Studio: Focus Features
Director: Harold Ramis
Screenwriter: Richard Russo, Robert Benton
Genre: Action, Comedy, Thriller
MPAA Rating: R (for violence, language and sexuality/nudity)
Website: The Ice Harvest

Starring: John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen, Randy Quaid, Oliver Platt

Plot Summary: It's Christmas Eve in rainy, icebound Wichita, Kansas, and this year Charlie Arglist (John Cusack) just might have something to celebrate. Charlie, an attorney for the sleazy businesses of Wichita, and his unsavory associate, the steely Vic Cavenaugh (Billy Bob Thornton), have just successfully embezzled $2,147,000 from Kansas City boss Bill Guerrard (Randy Quaid).

Even so, the real prize for Charlie would be the stunning Renata (Connie Nielsen), who runs the Sweet Cage strip club. Charlie's fondest Christmas wish is to slip out of town with Renata. But, as daylight fades and a storm whirls, everyone from Charlie's drinking buddy Pete Van Heuten (Oliver Platt) to the local police begin to wonder just what exactly is in Charlie's Christmas stocking. For Charlie, the 12 hours of Christmas Eve are filled with nonstop twists and turns, both on the ice and off.

 

[Bada0Bing]

I just watched this. I thought it was okay. It was a dark comedy and was funny at parts, but definitely was no Fargo. I guess it didn’t seem to have enough “cleverness” in it.

 

[Ryanwb]

I have man love for Connie Nielsen

 

[Mulli]

lame show for sucha quality cast

 

[vince56]

I was disappointed with this flick. We rented it last week, and with Thornton in it & Harold Ramis directing, I thought it would be a lot funnier, on par with Bad Santa. Heck, the trailer has the funniest parts of the film in it.

Like most John Cusack movies, I was bored 40 minutes in. I stayed awake long enough to finish the flick, and it seemed like what a Tarantino movie would be, if Tarantino made bad movies. It felt like they were going for the same mood as Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs, but this flick never had the 'cool' that QT brings to his writing/directing.

 

[Chaplin]

I was disappointed with this flick. We rented it last week, and with Thornton in it & Harold Ramis directing, I thought it would be a lot funnier, on par with Bad Santa. Heck, the trailer has the funniest parts of the film in it.

Like most John Cusack movies, I was bored 40 minutes in. I stayed awake long enough to finish the flick, and it seemed like what a Tarantino movie would be, if Tarantino made bad movies. It felt like they were going for the same mood as Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs, but this flick never had the 'cool' that QT brings to his writing/directing.

Except that Harold Ramis is a better director than Tarantino. The writing is the catch though, and why this movie isn't nearly as entertaining as, say, Reservoir Dogs or True Romance.

 

[Stout]

I was disappointed with this flick. We rented it last week, and with Thornton in it & Harold Ramis directing, I thought it would be a lot funnier, on par with Bad Santa. Heck, the trailer has the funniest parts of the film in it.

Like most John Cusack movies, I was bored 40 minutes in. I stayed awake long enough to finish the flick, and it seemed like what a Tarantino movie would be, if Tarantino made bad movies. It felt like they were going for the same mood as Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs, but this flick never had the 'cool' that QT brings to his writing/directing.

I haven't seen it, but I want to. Wow, if it wasn't even on par with that garbage Bad Santa, then it's probably pretty bad.

 

[Chaplin]

I haven't seen it, but I want to. Wow, if it wasn't even on par with that garbage Bad Santa, then it's probably pretty bad.

Wow. You didn't like Bad Santa? It was so hilariously subversive! And it takes place in Phoenix, so what more do you want?

 

[devilalum]

Heck, the trailer has the funniest parts of the film in it.
.

This really pisses me off. I've read that producers sometimes plan the trailers before they even shoot the movie. Then later you watch the movie and it's like they just added a bunch of crap footage to the trailer.

I never watch trailers anymore to decide what I want to see. I now rely on crack movie reviews from ASFN and other reputable media outlets.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Wow. You didn't like Bad Santa? It was so hilariously subversive! And it takes place in Phoenix, so what more do you want?

Bad Santa owned...

 

[Stout]

Wow. You didn't like Bad Santa? It was so hilariously subversive! And it takes place in Phoenix, so what more do you want?

It was just bad. It was obvious what they were trying to do, so the subversive element completely failed, and it just read as a dude trying to be as dirty as possible. So lame it made me wince.

 

[joeshmo]

It was just bad. It was obvious what they were trying to do, so the subversive element completely failed, and it just read as a dude trying to be as dirty as possible. So lame it made me wince.

I am right there with you. That movie stunk.

 

[Pariah]

I watched it last night and enjoyed it. But, maybe it's because I knew what to expect going in--even though it's listed as a comedy it's really not. It's a sorta funny crime drama.

I think liked it because it had lots of elements of the crime nior genre.