Review of The Iceman (2012) by Shervin K — 06 Sep 2013

Based on contract killer Richard Kuklinski, suspected for the murder of more than 100 men, The Iceman is both an effective character study, and a compelling mafia thriller. It is never short of fascinating, and is made by a truly exceptional performance from Michael Shannon.

It is, without question, Shannon's performance that makes The Iceman well worth taking in. Shannon's characteristic brooding intensity and enigmatic exterior is served very well here, giving Kuklinski a marked depth, yet a sort of nefarious simplicity that makes him all the more terrifying; he simply does not care. Shannon channels this intensity to a stunning effect, every scene is focused on him, if just because of his mere presence. The complexity he is able to convey, and how he conforms to the environments and situations he's placed in, make it a truly compelling character study as well.

The script and film do a good job giving us a narrative and strong story without resorting to constant historical markers that many semi-biographical films do, while also giving us a clear sense of how his rise to infamy happened. The script, however, does seem to get a bit muddled, perhaps even rushed, in its middle to latter act, as the pace quickens quite a bit, resulting in certain elements of the film not being well served. Chris Evans as Mr. Freezy, for example, brings a rather interesting dynamic, yet this is never fully fleshed out.

As a whole, The Iceman never ceases to engage with its audience, and offers an intelligent and undeniably compelling character study.

4/5 Stars.