Movie Reviews of 2005 #24 - The Ice Harvest

Having Been given the choice of six movies that open here today "Wed. 11/23/05", of
Rent, In The Mix, Pride & Prejudice, Yours Mine & Ours, Just Friends, & The Ice Harvest, I ended up watching The Ice Harvest.

I have been involved in 2.5 productions of the musical, don't care to sit through 2 hours of {c}rap music, P&P just plain looked {and is} boring as hell, YM&O is purely rehashed Disney shit, and Just Friends just plain did not look funny. So I did not argue with the choice.

It is an interesting, odd, and dark comedy about a 'not so good goodfella', Charlie {played by John Cusack}, that ripped off his mobster thug type boss Bill Guerrard, {Randy Quaid}, that tries to control everything he can, {but not as despicable as Wild Bill}, for over $2.000.000 on christmas eve. Due to an ice storm, he and his partner in crime Vic, {Billy Bob Thornton}, decide to part ways for the night & head out the next morning. The body of the story focuses on the odd happenings that go on throughout the night.

Overall Ice Harvest was fairly interesting. Knowing Harold Ramis' past works we all were expecting some twisted humour & odd setups for the characters. However the only thing that really stuck in my mind and others was Charlie's sidekick buddy Pete played by Oliver Platt. He had some of the best screen stealing lines & actions in the whole movie as a totally piss-drunk dumb-ass that we all at one time have met, {or some have been}, that you cannot help but love the guy.

Despite many flaws that those of us that have actually lived through ice storms, and even more evident to those of us that ice/winter storms are a matter of life, such as:

• There wasn't any ice glaze on any of the cars or what I like calling 4 wheeled ice cubes
• You could not see anybodies breath
• Cars going faster than 12 MPH will not turn on black ice
• And many other things that anyone that has lived in the real midwest during the winter months know & live with, and absolutely hate.

We all had a good time during the movie.

If you have problems picking up on stupid one liners, odd things happening that don't pay off until later on, or don't enjoy following a dark comedy because you have to think.

This movie will not be for you. Just wait until it comes out on DVD with a booklet on how to understand, & closed captioning with commentary.

Otherwise, I think this might be one of those movies that you will goto see, then buy it & it manages to stay in the frequently played stack.

Blessed Be, Dr. S.

P.S. There are pancakes in heaven, and a lot of other stuff too.