The true story of Richard Kuklinski, the notorious contract killer and family man. When finally arrested in 1986, neither his wife nor daughters have any clue about his real profession.
As ultra-efficient as its sociopathic subject, The Iceman knows exactly when to pull the trigger.
Dramatically, Vromen may prefer to maintain a marked contrast between workaday killer and devoted family man, but there’s already too much mythological neatness in thuggish wiseguy movies.
This solemn, blood-soaked thriller lacks the dynamism of its star, but is an impressive showcase for him nonetheless: it’s as hard to look away from Shannon’s performance as it is to look directly at it.
Witten and directed by Ariel Vromen, the picture is both compelling character study and well crafted mob thriller as Kuklinski’s ambitions eventually put him at cross purposes with his former boss Roy Demeo (an excellent Ray Liotta).
The Iceman is a case study in schizoid behaviour – Kuklinski is either being a top family guy or else murdering people – and a great movie for bad moustaches.
Kuklinski is just a nasty, creepy, violent piece of work. End of story. The period is nicely conjured up.
A pity, then, that nothing else in Ariel Vromen’s movie is remotely on Shannon’s level, from the plodding, Scorsese-clone script to the needlessly lifeless editing and cinematography.
As fascinating a leading man as Michael Shannon is, this biopic of cold-hearted mob hitman Richard Kuklinski really isn’t very good.
Michael Shannon delivers a typically mesmerising performance, but the film itself isn’t up to the same high standard.
Doesn't really melt the heart.
Haircuts aside, all we really learn is that The Iceman was not a nice man.
The killings are well staged, if somewhat repetitive, and the movie is performed by familiar Hollywood underworld figures.
Married to The Iceman
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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