Do you like black comedies? Do you like noir thrillers? Do you like mediocre movies with occasionally vaguely amusing performances and characterizations with otherwise little else to recommend them? "The Ice Harvest" is right up your alley, chief.
Lawyer Charlie Arglist (John Cusack) has executed a plan with his friend Vic (Billy Bob Thornton) to steal $2 million in cash from his gangster boss, Bill (Randy Quaid). "The Ice Harvest" follows Charlie's grand adventures in trying to get his hands on the money, avoid getting caught by the police, avoid getting caught by the gangster, and get laid by the woman he has a crush on, Renata (Connie Nielsen).
With a languid (that's fancy talk for slow) pace and minimal originality, the entertainment value falls squarely on the shoulders of the performers. Oliver Platt is probably the standout character of the movie, in a role that's barely related to the rest of the plot. Removing his character and plot threads might have sped the pace a little, but would have denied us an excellent performance as a drunken friend of Charlie's, who also has married Charlie's ex-wife.
"The Ice Harvest" just isn't all that great - it's the kind of movie you'd watch on cable if it starts and you're too tired, lazy or drunk to change the channel, but wouldn't (or at least, shouldn't) actually choose to watch. If you're a Billy Bob Thornton fan, watch "Sling Blade" instead, if you're a John Cusack fan, watch "Grosse Point Blank" again and if you're a noir fan, watch "Red Rock West" or "The Last Seduction" again instead.
| | The good: |
Oliver Platt as a drunken lovable loser. |
| | The bad: |
Randy Quaid as a gangster. |
| | The ugly: |
HA HA HE TRIPPED ON THE ICE AND HIT HIS BUTT!!!!!! |
4/10
|