Movie Review: The Iceman (2012)

Stone cold crazy

Based on the true story of a New Jersey hitman, The Iceman tells how Richard Kuklinski became a notorious contract killer.  For me, Michael Shannon makes the movie what it is.  His physical stature alone is amazing.  He has such a talent for playing severely messed up people (Take Shelter, The Missing Person, Boardwalk Empire).  In general it is a very solid film and I liked it a lot. 

The Iceman gets 3.5 out of 5 stars!

Director: Ariel Vromen
Writer: Morgan Land (screenplay), Ariel Vromen (screenplay)
Starring: Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder, Chris Evans, Ray Liotta, David Schwimmer
Rotten Tomatoes: 67%
Metacritic: 60%

The Missing Person (2009)

Who's after who?

A hard drinking private detective is hired to track a man down.  As he follows him across country, the detective realizes something is not quite right.  Michael Shannon (Take Shelter) does a superb bit of acting playing an archetypal PI in this neo-noir flick.  He manages to act either drunk or hungover in a very convincing way.  Amy Ryan does a great job deadpanning as Miss Charlie.  Definitely worth watching. 


The Missing Person gets a respectable 3 out of 5 Poblanos!

Director: Noah Buschel
Writer: Noah Buschel
Starring: Michael Shannon, Frank Wood and Amy Ryan
Rotten Tomatoes: 64%
Metacritic: 57%

Take Shelter (2011)

Just because you're paranoid don't mean they're not after you
Curtis starts having vivid nighttime dreams and daytime visions about a storm of apocalyptic proportions.  This nightmare storm provokes people to do horrific things.  Curtis is terrified and begins preparing for this coming storm.  Everyone in his small town thinks he is crazy.  Michael Shannon does a powerful job of portraying Curtis.  He channels the terror, frustration, and desperation of the character with great power.  Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life) has a few standout moments as Curtis' wife Samantha but is otherwise just kind of there.  The feeling of the film is one of the real stars.  This simple, haunting indie thriller will make you think for a while.  It makes me think - just because people think you are crazy, that doesn't mean you are.  And just because you experience things that are outside the realm of 'normal' doesn't mean you are unbalanced and need counseling and medication.  

Take Shelter still haunts me with 4 out 5 Poblanos!

Director: Jeff Nichols
Writer: Jeff Nichols
Starring: Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain and Shea Whigham
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Metacritic: 85 out of 100