Review of The Iceman (2012) by Alex R — 13 Aug 2013

The Iceman is an intense and well acted biopic of notorious mafia contract killer Richard Kuklinski. Michael Shannon is terrific in the lead role and he on-screen intensity makes this film a stunning film to watch.

The film is inaccurate of course, but it is above all a piece of entertainment. The film shows how Kuklinski was ruthless in his methods and was effective in disposing of the victims. This is one of Michael Shannon's most intense performances and he makes the film much better than it actually is.

The film also boasts an impressive cast alongside Shannon. Ray Liotta is impressive here as well as James Franco and Chris Evans. This is a dark film that will certainly appeal to crime fans. However it is not accurate and it is clear there were some creative liberties done to the script to make it more thrilling for a viewing audience.

I've seen the Iceman interviews and they're quite chilling and graphic details. With this film, viewers can get a glimpse of this notorious hit man, and if they're more interested they can seek out more info on the real Richard Kuklinski.

This is a flawed film, but one that is quite entertaining and delivers some intense scenes of mafia hits. The acting is very good, the script is solid enough and the direction is almost immaculate. Give this one a shot; you will be blown away by Michael Shannon's intense performance.

This is a worthy crime picture that is sure to please gangster film fans. The film won't be a classic anything time soon, but it is nonetheless a standout film with terrific performances and an engaging storyline.