918. The Ice Storm

The Ice Storm
1997
Directed by Ang Lee

I have to officiate a wedding tomorrow (tomorrow meaning April 29th when I wrote this) and my anxiety about the whole thing is reaching a fever pitch.  Today I am just trying to stay distracted and not think about my impending speech.  I am doing a good job so far, don't you think?

Ice Storm is about two miserable, dysfunctional families during the 1970s who escape their problems through alcohol and sexual experimentation.  Ben, the patriarch of the Hood family, is having an affair with Janey Carver, a depressed, middle age housewife.  Meanwhile, their children play sexual games of their own.   Paul, Ben's son, compares his family to the Fantastic Four, citing similarities between the level of dysfunction in each group.

I really expected this to be much more atmospheric.  I thought everything (the music, the colors, etc) would contribute to an icy feeling like the elements of Zero Kelvin did.  I really didn't get that with this film, but as I seem to be the only one that feels this way, I am willing to accept that the subtlety was lost on me.

In any case, Sigourney Weaver truly shines in this and oddly enough, so does Tobey Maguire.  I never thought of him as an acting powerhouse.  Definitely an interesting find.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

The author of the novel this film was based on, Ricky Moody, was so impressed with the movie that he sobbed during the credits.