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The Ice Harvest (Widescreen Edition)

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Holiday movies dont get much darker, or more darkly humorous, than The Ice Harvest, an offbeat comedy that defies expectations. The involvement of director Harold Ramis might lead some to expect a straight-up comedy like Groundhog Day or Analyze This, but despite Ramiss fine and atypically subdued work here, its the writers (Robert Benton and Richard Russo) who put a stronger stamp on their adaptation of the novel by Scott Phillips. Benton and Russo previously collaborated on Nobodys Fool and Twilight (with Benton also directing), and those films are similar in tone and spirit to this quirky, modern-day film noir, set on a freezing Christmas Eve in Wichita, Kansas, where mob lawyer Charlie Arglist (John Cusack) has a lot on his mind. Hes just stolen $2 million from his boss (Randy Quaid), he cant trust his partner Vic (Billy Bob Thornton), hes secretly in love with the manager (Connie Nielsen) of the strip bar he owns, and his best friend (Oliver Platt, giving yet another terrific performance) is married to his ex-wife. Before the nights over, several murders will complicate matters even further, and throughout it all, The Ice Harvest is anchored by Cusacks good-natured presence in a bad-natured story that dares to combine double-crosses and bloodshed with elusive yuletide cheer. Its a strange but oddly appealing combination, not for all tastes but refreshing for that very same reason. --Jeff Shannon

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(4 stars) - Film Noir With a Goofy Touch
THE ICE HARVEST is a clever bit of film noir with a goofy touch. Harold Ramis directed.

John Cusack stars as a Mob lawyer who is, otherwise, a very nice guy. Along with the more sinister Billy Bob Thornton, he steals over two million dollars from his boss (Randy Quaid), then has to wait out the night until he and Thornton can make their escape.

Unfortunately, Quaid and his enforcer (Mike Starr) get wind of the theft, which creates other complications.

Richard Russo and Robert Benton's script, adapted from Scott Phillips' novel, keeps the tension high but doesn't forget the humor. Indeed, there are some hilarious sequences in this film, particularly one that involves a bad guy locked in a trunk and another that features a very drunk Oliver Platt, who nearly steals the movie.

Connie Nielsen is quite good as the movie's femme fatale.

DVD extras include audio commentary by Ramis, two alternate endings, some interesting production featurettes and a laugh-out-loud outtake with Cusack and Thornton.

(4 stars) - Mislabeled as a comedy
I guess because Richard Russo cowrote the screenplay, someone figured this should be labeled a comedy. There are no laughs. It's a dark Christmas movie with a Mob theme, several murders and a $2 million heist that goes awry. I enjoyed the atmosphere, but some won't. The dialogue is high quality. The alternate endings don't work, though, unless you want this to end even more darkly.

(5 stars) - Great movie I loved it John Cusack is amazing
I love this movie. John Cusack was great. I watch this a lot all the time. That was great.

(3 stars) - IT'S ONLY ME, BUT:
SHOULD OF BEEN FUNIER WITH JOHN CUSAK AND BILLIE BOB THORNTON TOETHER. DIDN'T GUITE GET THERE. JM

(4 stars) - HAROLD RAMIS, OPUS 10
***1/2 2005. Directed by Harold Ramis. The screenplay, adapted from Scott Phillips' The Ice Harvest: A Novel and written by Robert Kramer vs. Kramer Benton earned a nomination for the Edgar Allan Poe award. In the icy city of Wichita, two unskilled amateurs, who've stolen $2 million from a mob boss, try to get away. I liked a lot the cynical mood of the film who must be enjoyed like an old liqueur. Enjoyable.

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The Ice Harvest (Widescreen Edition)

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