The Ice Storm | Kevin Kline, Joan Allen | arguably one of the best American films from the 90's

The Ice Storm | Kevin Kline, Joan Allen | "I'll Show You Mine, if You Show Me Yours."

DVDs:

The Ice Storm

	The Ice Storm Kevin Kline, Joan Allen 20th Century Fox, 2001 average customer review:based on 144 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

arguably one of the best American films from the 90's

It has to be said right away this movie is depressing and exhausting to watch, much like Ordinary People and American Beauty were. All three of these films examine American upper-middle class family life with a dark, critical eye. Ice Storm will haunt you if you watch it with care and attention. So if you are up for that, this is an extraodinarily good, memorable film. It has really only one flaw -- it becomes message-heavy near the end. It didnt have to push the message that hard to accomplish its goal. Its a minor flaw and the movie succeeds in virtually every other way.

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"I'll Show You Mine, if You Show Me Yours."

Ang Lee's "The Ice Storm" is a brilliant, beautiful, but haunting film, that shows us how the sexual revolution of the 1960's brought about emotional devestation, once it hit the suburbs of the 1970's. This is a portrait of two upper middle class families, who are trying to find themselves in the decade of Watergate and Vietnam, where sex, drugs and infidelity are among the many obstacles to confront them. We are shown adults, who act like adolescents and adolescents, who are too quickly trying to become adults.

Ang Lee does an excellent job of recreating the era through architecture, music, wardrobe etc. But where he really triumphs is in creating an emotional framework, which makes us care about these people. All the actors involved with this movie give near perfect performances. Special mention should be made for actors, Kevin Kline and Joan Allen, who show us a married couple, who's relationship is in a downward spiral. Finally, kudos should go out to Composer, Mychael Danna, who provides the film with a beautiful, moody and meditative score, that stays with you long after the movie is over.

When "The Ice Storm" had it's original theatrical run in 1997, it came and went without much notice. The studio had totally bungled the film's marketing and release date. I personally loved this movie and was really shocked, when it did not receive even a single Academy Award nomination that year.

Now, over a decade later this wonderful film is finally getting the recognition it deserves from a small, but growing cult audience. This is no more evident, then the film's recent re-release to DVD by 'The Criterion Collection'. This rectifies the original 2001 release, which was pretty skimpy in the 'extras' department.'The Criterion Collection' (as usual) has done a marvelous job in supplying a multitude of extras. This includes an entertaining and inciteful commentary track from Director, Ang Lee and Screenwriter, James Schamus. They discuss both the film's production and it's themes. The two are also featured in a filmed 'Q&A' event at New York's 'Museum of the Moving Image'. Other extras include deleted scenes (with commentary) and a documentary featuring most of the film's cast. Also quite interesting is a series of mini-docs, which concentrate on the look of 'The Ice Storm' including cinematography, costumes and sets.

If you are a fan of "The Ice Storm" then this release is the way to see it. Highly recommended for fans of good drama!

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The Ice Storm...

came before American Beauty, and was better than American Beauty.
Ice Storm is a great film. first Kicking & Screaming, now this.
Criterion has excellent taste...

Family Matters

I was only 13 years old when 'The Ice Storm' made its very short run at my local theater in Amarillo, TX. I had to drag my father to go see it with me due to its "R" rating. After many uncomfortable moments sitting there with my father, the film wrapped up with its tragic finale. I was speechless to say the least. Now, 10 years later, I still am.

'The Ice Storm' is truely one of the most incredibly underappreciated films of the 90s. I think that had it been made today (especially now with Ang Lee being a more familiar name thanks in part to 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' and 'Brokeback Mountain'), the film would have made a lot more noise that it did back in '97. But for some reason, the people of 1997 just weren't ready for what 'The Ice Storm' had in store. If only it had waited two more years, it would have brilliantly accompained 'American Beauty'. The two are strangely very similar yet different. Both are excellent films, though I feel 'The Ice Storm' is far more mature and composed.

The film is about two families who interact with each other in many ways. The parents are cheating on each other. Their children are experimenting with each other via sex and drugs. Yet, before you say that it sounds pretty drab or even bleak, let me just say that there's so much more. The writing and direction is so sharp and observant. The acting is flawless and fearless. It's not only one of the best films of the 90s, it's one of my favorite films of all time.

Fans of family dynamics and infedelity will greatly enjoy. There's also enough social commentary to keep even the peskiest viewer interested. Bottom line: 'The Ice Storm' is a brilliant film that's not afraid to "go there". Its acceptance into the Criterion Collection is a wonderful aknowledgement of its importance. It truely does stand the test of time.

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Time didn't change this for me

My mistake in 1997 was to see this film the day after I finished the book. Expectations were set far too high and I was disappointed with all the changes. Therefore, I knew that a space of over a decade would be good enough to view this solely as a film, and I still find it lacking. The first forty-five minutes (which are original and not from the book) are the weakest part of the movie. The dialogue is weak- the whole "your body is a temple" speech - attempts to make Joan Allen's mother more human came across as pointless and Kevin Kline's acting is too broad for me. There just doesn't seem to be any soul or heart to the story.

But there are good things about the film. The clothes, hair and decor are spot on. We get to see early performances from Tobey Maguire, Katie Holmes and David Krumholtz. Cristina Ricci - going from child actress to adult - is undergoing her awkward phase in this movie, and it fits the character. Allison Janney who livens up the proceedings with her smoky eye-makeup, semi-deranged performance and key party.

Speaking of the key party, the film picks up when the title storm hits and the family is scattered. The party scene is very well-directed and is the high point of the movie. I could watch it over and over for the clothes alone. But in the end, I felt just as disappointed in this second viewing as I did originally. Fans of the film, take heart. The DVD is well presented and has several quality extras for which Criterion is known.

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