Review - The Ice Harvest

"The Ice Harvest" is a dark comedy/crime drama, and quite possibly one of the first movies you will ever see that has almost an entire cast made up of socially negative characters.
It is Christmas Eve...and crooked mob lawyer Charlie Arglist has just swindled over two million dollars in cash from local gangster Bill Guerrard. Aided by his associate, a pornographer and general low-life, Vic Cavanaugh...all the pair has to do is lay low until morning...and then leave town rich men. Unfortunately, several situations arise that threaten to derail their well-laid plans. A notorious hit man has just shown up in town...looking for the pair. Strip club owner Renata asks for an incriminating photo from Vic. A local councilman with a lot to lose needs a favor. And a major ice storm is hitting the town like a ton of bricks. How much can happen in one night...and how much can one man take?
Most movies...even dark comedies such as this one...have at least a couple of characters who seem to have some socially redeemable qualities. With the seeming minor exception of Charlie's daughter...this movie left them out. The characters in this film are hustlers, thieves, backstabbers, con artists, cold blooded murderers, and general lowlives. And yet...you can still feel empathy for them.
There are a few points of contention with the movie. There are a lot of people out and about, considering the town is in the middle of a major ice storm...and it appears that their cars have amazing traction. Several times you witness cars stopping on a dime from full speed without even skidding. The story drags in a few points...and it almost seems like they shot several of the interior scenes in the same house, just with the furniture moved around and different lighting.
Despite those, this remains a decent movie...if for nothing else, than some amazing performances by an all-star cast.
It's dark...it's a little out there...but "The Ice Harvest" comes through.
Starring - John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Platt, and Randy Quaid. Directed by Harold Ramis.
Time - 1 hour, 28 minutes. Rated - R (Violence, language, adult situations, nudity)