Advanced Search Beta »
Basic Search Fields
The Ice Storm
The Ice Storm Image
See the trailer
Metascore
72 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.3 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 15 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Starring: Joan Allen, Kevin Kline
  • Summary: It's November 1973 in New Canaan, Connecticut. Watergate has caught up with Richard Nixon. The Beatles are recording solo albums. Wife-swapping has come to the suburbs. And, the Hood family is skidding out of control. (Fox Searchlight)

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 23
  3. Negative: 1 out of 23
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    What we sense after the film is that the natural sources of pleasure have been replaced with higher-octane substitutes, which have burnt out the ability to feel joy.
  2. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    60
    An honorable film, beautifully acted, refreshingly un-camp in its take on wide lapels and progressive rock and occasionally coolly moving. It's just that ultimately, there's less here than meets the eye.
  3. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Desson Thomson
    30
    Unfortunately, the drama operates on a see-through, easily shatterable metaphor: the frigidity of the WASP soul. [17 October 1997, p.N32]
    All this critic's reviews

See all 23 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. BryanH.
    10
    By far the best film ever, not to have been nominated for best film. It was Kevin Kline's best work to date and Ang Lee established himself as the most sensitive director alive. The entire cast was flawless. The cinematography and soundtrack left me yearning for more, though the catharsis brought to bear was complete! It captures a glimpse of the disco era (minus the disco) that you will never see again. The warmth of its meaning made up for the sometimes cold Connecticut bourgeoisie. Despite it's icy backdrop, it heats the screen with a humanity and reality I have rarely seen on or off the screen.… Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  2. LeonardoF
    10
    Absolutely brilliant.
    • 0 of 1 users said yes
  3. BobD.
    0
    The most depressing, pointless movie I have ever seen. Pure crap. I must say, the acting is fairly good, but at the end I wanted to stick my head in an oven. One of the hallmarks of good dramas is that there is conflict and also resolution...there is plenty of conflict but not one good, happy, or decent thing happens. This was a movie written and directed for critics, typical Hollywood elitism. It was so awful I am shocked that it didn't win an Oscar!… Expand
    • 0 of 2 users said yes

See all 6 User Reviews

Trailers

Recommended Products

  1. Lust, Caution

    Lust, Caution Image

  2. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

    Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Image

  3. Brokeback Mountain

    Brokeback Mountain Image

Current Movie Releases

Full List »
  1. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
    Metascore: 73
  2. War Horse
    Metascore: 72
  3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
    Metascore: 71
  4. The Adventures of Tintin
    Metascore: 68
  5. Haywire
    Metascore: 67
  6. The Grey
    Metascore: 64
  7. The Woman in Black
    Metascore: 62
  8. The Iron Lady
    Metascore: 54
  9. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
    Metascore: 48
  10. Red Tails
    Metascore: 46
  11. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
    Metascore: 46
  12. Underworld Awakening
    Metascore: 39
  13. One for the Money
    Metascore: 22
  14. The Devil Inside
    Metascore: 18
  15. The Darkest Hour
    Metascore: 16
All Current Movies »