Review of The Iceman (2012) by Patrick L — 23 Sep 2013

"Michael Shannon owns this movie".

DVD Movie Review: The Iceman.

Date Viewed: September 11 2013.

Directed By Ariel Vromen.

Screenplay By Ariel Vromen and Morgan Land, Based upon the fictional book written by Anthony Bruno entitled "The Iceman: The True Story Of A Cold Blooded Killer" and the Documentary entitled "The Iceman Tapes: Conversations With A Killer" by James Thebaut.

Starring: Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder, Ray Liotta, James Franco, Chris Evans, David Schwimmer, Robert Davi, Stephen Dorff, Erin Cummings, Weronika Rosati, John Ventimiglia and Christa Campbell.

"The Iceman" is a mob-serial killer movie that shows Michael Shannon at the top of his form. He owns this movie as Richard Kuklinski, a contract killer who became of the most prolific serial killers in history. His success reigned from the 70's to the early 80's, until his arrest in 1986.

"The Iceman" may serve as "Goodfellas-Lite" but this is a entertaining mob picture nevertheless. Richard Kuklinski may have notorious killer but he was also a family man. Richard had a wife named Deborah (Winona Ryder) and two daughters. His wife and kids had no idea about his real job.

Based on a true story, "The Iceman" starts off in the early 1970s where Kuklinski is already an active killer but he begins executing hits for Roy DeMeo (Ray Liotta), a member of the Gambino family. Kuklinski also done side work for the mob dubbing porn films. Since his family doesn't know about his real job, Kuklinski is now in the currency exchange business. His wife doesn't question his job since Deborah is happy about Richard's new salary which allows them to move into a dream house in suburban New Jersey.

When DeMeo cuts Kuklinski loose, Kuklinski decides to do business with another hitman, an ice cream truck driver named Robert 'Mr. Freezy' Pronge (Chris Evans). Their partnership runs into trouble when 'Mr. Freezy' just can't take Kuklinski's temper anymore and DeMeo threatens to go after Kuklinski's family.

When Kuklinski was arrested in 1986, he was sentenced to life in prison and he never saw his family again. "The Iceman" is a disturbingly sinister mob movie thanks to Michael Shannon's great performance. Shannon is so menacing, he's like an angry walrus willing to attack at the right moment.

Winona Ryder does an effective job playing the hitman's wife. Ray Liotta, Chris Evans, Robert Davi and an unrecognizable David Schwimmer turn in good supporting performances. James Franco I thought was miscast playing one of the many victims that Kuklinski had killed.

Kuklinski was also interviewed behind bars and his story became the subject of a 1992 HBO documentary by James Thebaut and a fictional 1993 book by Anthony Bruno.

Michael Shannon is terrific in "The Iceman" and he leaves you wanting more.