Thin Ice

Name: Thin Ice
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Crime
Released: February 17, 2012
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 60
Cast: Alan Arkin, Billy Crudup, Greg Kinnear, Lea Thompson

2012

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Mixed or average reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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7.0

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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Thin Ice

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Movie Details & Credits

ATO Pictures | Release Date: February 17, 2012 | R

Starring: Alan Arkin, Billy Crudup, Greg Kinnear, Lea Thompson

Summary: Mickey Prohaska is a small-time insurance agent looking for a way to jump-start his business, reunite with his estranged wife and escape the frigid Wisconsin weather. This self-proclaimed master of spin believes that salesmanship is about selling a story - all he needs is a sucker willing to buy it. He hits pay dirt with a lonely retiredMickey Prohaska is a small-time insurance agent looking for a way to jump-start his business, reunite with his estranged wife and escape the frigid Wisconsin weather. This self-proclaimed master of spin believes that salesmanship is about selling a story - all he needs is a sucker willing to buy it. He hits pay dirt with a lonely retired farmer who is sitting on something much bigger than an insurance commission. But Mickey's attempt to con the old man spins out of control when a nosy, unstable locksmith with a volatile temper dramatically ups the stakes, trapping him in a spiral of danger, deceit and double-crossing. Blending dark comedy and delirious Midwestern noir, Thin Ice, reaches a breaking point that no one - least of all Mickey Prohaska - could ever see coming. (ATO Pictures)

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Director: Jill Sprecher

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 93 min

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Critic Reviews

Owen Gleiberman

Feb 15, 2012

Throw in a nagging divorce settlement, an unplanned murder, and Billy Crudup - hilarious! - as a raging security man, and Jill Sprecher's film enjoyably fuses cleverness and sheer desperation. Read full review

Steven Rea

Feb 16, 2012

Writing with her sister, Karen, Jill Sprecher rigs up an elaborate cause-and-effect comedy of errors, with Kinnear's predatory protagonist as both perp and victim. I won't say more than that, but Thin Ice is deeper than it first appears. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Feb 23, 2012

This is a devilishly ingenious screenplay by the sisters Jill and Karen Sprecher. Read full review

Joshua Rothkopf

Feb 14, 2012

When a movie is this predicated on aping the Coen brothers (effectively, it should be added, in fits and starts), surprise won't be its strong suit. Read full review

Betsy Sharkey

Feb 16, 2012

If you can get past the rough patches - a slightly sluggish start and a coda that feels like one punch line too many - there is some sinister fun to be had in watching Kinnear skating toward disaster on ice that is very thin indeed. Read full review

Ty Burr

Apr 5, 2012

The movie never fully clicks. Read full review

Nick Schager

Feb 13, 2012

The icy fatalism of film noir is turned to slush by Thin Ice, a crime saga that reduces its chosen genre to a series of atonal, old-hat clichés. Read full review

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User Reviews

BHBarry

Feb 19, 2012

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

sundanceron

Feb 17, 2012

Viewed this film at Sundance 2011 and loved it!! Greg Kinear is indeed on thin ice in this caper and hilarious film. It reminded me of "Little Miss Sunshine", with alot of the same cast. Loved it!!

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

JohnC87

Jun 17, 2012

Thin Ice pulls you in with its uncomfortably edgy, eerie and yet comical approach. It was interesting and entertaining, even if just for the acting alone, which is superb. A good mix of turmoil, tension and comedy. Greg Kinnear is fantastic as is Billy Crudup. Alan Arkin is great but not inThin Ice pulls you in with its uncomfortably edgy, eerie and yet comical approach. It was interesting and entertaining, even if just for the acting alone, which is superb. A good mix of turmoil, tension and comedy. Greg Kinnear is fantastic as is Billy Crudup. Alan Arkin is great but not in it as much as the other two. Lea Thompson should have had a bit more of a role, really like her. Some of the way part of the film was handled is questionable but overall I liked it a lot. I love special fx done the right way in a film but there's no CGI or special fx here, just a good film with great acting. Love to see big actors in raw indie films.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

prjackel

Feb 28, 2012

I enjoyed the movie for being a Coen **** type of film. Then I read Roger Ebert's review and found out that the studio re-edited and changed the film without the consent of the director who now refers to the film as something with her name on it that isn't really her film. I hope the DVD hasI enjoyed the movie for being a Coen **** type of film. Then I read Roger Ebert's review and found out that the studio re-edited and changed the film without the consent of the director who now refers to the film as something with her name on it that isn't really her film. I hope the DVD has a directors' cut so we can see what was really intended. Still, even as is, the film is worth seeing.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Meth-dude

Dec 12, 2017

While the main plot is a little bit unbelievable and the ending was a little far fetched, the movie was still pretty good. The acting was more than decent, it manages to keep the viewer interested throughout the whole movie and it was funny at times. Some people might find the movie boring,While the main plot is a little bit unbelievable and the ending was a little far fetched, the movie was still pretty good. The acting was more than decent, it manages to keep the viewer interested throughout the whole movie and it was funny at times. Some people might find the movie boring, but you should still give it a chance, you might enjoy it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MarcDoyle

Feb 19, 2012

As the lead character (Kinear) starts down what seems like a funnel of bad decisions, the movie struck me as a combination of Fargo and A Simple Plan, which worried me. The story has been done, I thought to myself. But the staccato performances of the supporting characters suggested thereAs the lead character (Kinear) starts down what seems like a funnel of bad decisions, the movie struck me as a combination of Fargo and A Simple Plan, which worried me. The story has been done, I thought to myself. But the staccato performances of the supporting characters suggested there was more going on than a series of unlucky events confronting this scoundrel. In particular, Billy Crudup is fantastic. My real criticism of the film is that it took far too long to kick into crisis mode - the first 20 minutes were verging on boring as they established the key plot points. Without reveling anything too important about the story, I'll just say it's worth seeing.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

txrangersfan72

Feb 18, 2012

An interesting concept and the makings of what could have been a cool scam. If only it wasn't burdened by an extremely slow story that took way too long to get to its climax. Then, when it did, it only maintained it's interesting edge for about 10 minutes. The scam turned out prettyAn interesting concept and the makings of what could have been a cool scam. If only it wasn't burdened by an extremely slow story that took way too long to get to its climax. Then, when it did, it only maintained it's interesting edge for about 10 minutes. The scam turned out pretty clever, but it simply too long to get there. My interest was LONG gone. Had it not been for some fantastic actors, I would have had a hard time giving it a single star. A plot like this deserved a lot better.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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