The Ice Storm

Name: The Ice Storm
Genre: Drama
Released: September 26, 1997
Duration: 112 min
Rating: 72
Cast: Joan Allen, Kevin Kline

1997

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 23 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 60 Ratings

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8.7

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8.7	User Score Universal acclaim based on 60 Ratings

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THE ICE STORM

Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: September 26, 1997

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)

Director: Ang Lee

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 112 min

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Awards & Rankings

31	#31 Best Movie of 1997
56	#56 Most Discussed Movie of 1997
49	#49 Most Shared Movie of 1997

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert

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. Read full review

100

Rolling Stone - Peter Travers

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. Read full review

The New York Times - Elvis Mitchell

Elegant and deeply disquieting drama. Read full review

San Francisco Chronicle - Edward Guthmann

Never becomes the thoroughly satisfying psychological drama that it promises to be. There's also a problem with the central metaphor of ice -- a literary device that turns repetitive and obvious. Read full review

Slate - David Edelstein

Lee views these mortal fools with a sorrowful detachment. He's a sort of clinical humanist, editorializing only by what he leaves out. The downside of this method is its impersonality, which limits our involvement. The upside is its lack of cheap sentiment, and its clarity. Read full review

Washington Post - Rita Kempley

The decade has been fondly spoofed in capers like "The Brady Bunch," but Lee's film takes a much more searing, if initially hilarious look at the sexual revolution's migration to a New England suburb and the community's subsequent meltdown. [17 October 1997, p.D6]

Washington Post - Desson Thomson

Unfortunately, the drama operates on a see-through, easily shatterable metaphor: the frigidity of the WASP soul. [17 October 1997, p.N32]

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User Reviews

LeonardoF

Mar 6, 2006

Absolutely brilliant.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

BryanH.

Feb 4, 2007

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 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 found this helpful

S.Gold

Dec 6, 2005

Can't name one bad thing about this film.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DirigiblePulp

Dec 17, 2016

This is how you do Thanksgiving. This is a really good movie about a very specific time period in a very specific type of people's lives. Great actors, great acting, great pacing. It's all about the selfish "me" generation of the 70's, neglecting their kids and swinging and cheating and meThis is how you do Thanksgiving. This is a really good movie about a very specific time period in a very specific type of people's lives. Great actors, great acting, great pacing. It's all about the selfish "me" generation of the 70's, neglecting their kids and swinging and cheating and me me me. I think. And also about what those kids learn from the mistakes of their parents. It's a generations movie and there's a Fantastic Four analogy that keeps happening. Something about saving the world while a kid is in danger but if any one person gets too much power they all suffer (Me, is the downfall of the family unit). A really good and involving film.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Broyax

Apr 22, 2019

Une sorte d'études de moeurs d'une famille américaine certainement névrosée mais grosso merdo très banale dans ses atermoiements plus ou moins mélo-dramatiques. En fait, on s'en tape complètement, puis on s'endort presque aussi sec, via la mise en scène à deux balles et à deux de tensionUne sorte d'études de moeurs d'une famille américaine certainement névrosée mais grosso merdo très banale dans ses atermoiements plus ou moins mélo-dramatiques. En fait, on s'en tape complètement, puis on s'endort presque aussi sec, via la mise en scène à deux balles et à deux de tension d'Ang Lee qui étire au maximum cette litanie de personnages creux aux dialogues lénifiants.

Les comédiens connus et renommés n'y peuvent rien et coulent bien entendu avec ce navire, cette épave plutôt, qui prend eau de toutes parts. Ce n'est ni triste ni drôle mais tristement pathétique et pathétiquement con. Un film désespérément futile dont l'inutilité transparaît à chaque plan et à chaque réplique et d'ailleurs tout le monde a l'air de bien se faire chier là-dedans : l'ennui de ce "Ice Storm" est décidément "communicatif" et très contagieux.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BobD.

Apr 9, 2007

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, 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

1 of 3 users found this helpful

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