The Ice Storm
Metascore
72 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 23
  3. Negative: 1 out of 23
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  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. Rolling Stone
    Reviewed by: Peter Travers
    100
    This emotional climax of the film, with its warring glints of despair and hope, typifies the stunning achievement of The Ice Storm and confirms Lee as a director of the first rank.
  3. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    100
    Provocative, entertaining, and impeccably crafted.
  4. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Rick Groen
    100
    This remarkable analysis of a decade when American society lost its moral compass is both brutally honest and lyrically compassionate.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    83
    Kevin Kline is sweetly befuddled as a good man caught between worlds, and Sigourney Weaver, as a hard, sexy adulteress, makes her wit sting.
  6. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Keith Phipps
    90
    A harsh (though slightly toned down from Moody's book), deeply moving, emotionally rich and intelligent film about the difficulty of rebelling against social restrictions--and the inescapable consequences of such attempts when they do succeed--The Ice Storm should not be missed.
  7. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Elvis Mitchell
    90
    Elegant and deeply disquieting drama.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.2 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. 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!… Full Review »
  2. 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.… Full Review »
  3. LeonardoF
    10
    Absolutely brilliant.
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