The Iceman (2012)

The story of Richard Kuklinski, the notorious contract killer and family man. When finally arrested in 1986, neither his wife nor daughters had any clue about his real profession.

Director:

Ariel Vromen

Writers:

Morgan Land (screenplay), Ariel Vromen (screenplay)

Stars:

Michael Shannon, Chris Evans, James Franco

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Shannon	...	Richard Kuklinski
Winona Ryder	...	Deborah Pellicotti
Chris Evans	...	Mr. Freezy
Ray Liotta	...	Roy Demeo
David Schwimmer	...	Josh Rosenthal
Danny A. Abeckaser	...	Dino Lapron (as Danny Abeckaser)
John Ventimiglia	...	Mickey Scicoli
Ryan O'Nan	...	Terry Franzo
McKaley Miller	...	Anabel
Megan Sherrill	...	Betsy
James Franco	...	Marty Freeman
Stephen Dorff	...	Joey Kuklinski
Hector Hugo	...	Tender Bar Earl (as Hector Hank)
Robert Davi	...	Leonard Merks
Zoran Radanovich	...	Jimmy

Storyline

In the 1960s, Richard Kuklinski is working as a porn film lab tech until his mob bosses persuade him to change his career into that of a contract killer. For years, Kuklinski gains a reputation for cold blooded professionalism even as he raises a family who are kept in the dark about his true career. Unfortunately, mob politics ultimately forces him to secretly work independently with the psychopathic Robert 'Mr. Freezy' Pronge. As much as Kuklinski tries to keep his lives separate, circumstances and his own weaknesses threaten a terrible collision as the consequences of his choices finally catch up to him.

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Plot Keywords:

serial murderer | based on true story | contract killer | murder of a girl | crime family | 

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Taglines:

Loving husband. Devoted father. Ruthless killer.

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language and some sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 May 2013 (Lebanon)

Also Known As:

El hombre de hielo

Filming Locations:

Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$87,946, 5 May 2013, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,939,441, 7 July 2013

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bleiberg Entertainment, Millennium Films, FortyFour Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Before production began, director Ariel Vromen shot a test scene with Michael Shannon as Richard Kuklinski and Michael Wincott as Robert Pronge. Shannon kept his role in the feature version, while Chris Evans was cast as Robert Pronge because Vromen wanted someone younger for that part. The director offered Wincott another role, but the actor wasn't happy with it and amicably refused.

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Goofs

When the Iceman is driving to make the hit on Marty Freeman, his gloves are on/off/on between shots.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mr. Freezy: Mr. Kuklinski, do you have any regrets about the things you've done?

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Connections

References Cinderella (1950)

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Soundtracks

Heart of Glass
Written by Debbie Harry, Chris Stein (as Christopher Stein)
Performed by Blondie
Published by Chrysalis Music (BMI)
Courtesy of EMI Music Film & TV

User Reviews

The iceman

A life of crime. Are some people genetically predisposed to crime or is it all about choices?

In this hard hitting drama, we follow the rise and fall of Richard Kuklinski played utterly convincingly by Michael Shannon. The man who terrorised many, yet he was a faithful and devoted dad and husband where the constant struggle is shown in keeping the balance between a life of crime and family harmony.

One scene I find particularly mesmerising is when he visits his brother in prison and as he is about to leaves his brother shouts that since are both born criminals they shall both end up in jail.

Kudos to the makers for conveying tension and emotion in the correct dose. My only remark would be that it kind of lost its way between being a crime drama and autobiography, however whilst it successfully is a bit of both, I sort of craved it picked a genre and dig a little deeper.