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

Maggie Gyllenhaal was cast as Deborah Kuklinski, but dropped out due to pregnancy. She was replaced by Winona Ryder.

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Goofs

One hour, thirty four mins and thirty nine seconds into the movie when Richard Kuklinski is being arrested in his 1976 Lincoln continental with his wife, there is a December 2013 New Hampshire Vehicle inspection sticker that appears on the windshield when the camera zooms into their faces to see their reactions to the armed police officers approaching them.

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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 Adventures of Tarzan (1921)

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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

A Good Movie, But...

The Iceman was an enjoyable movie with very good acting, but ultimately quite unrealistic.

The Iceman, Richard Kuklinski, comes off as a very sympathetic character in the end, whereas in real life he truly was a cold emotionless and sociopathic killer. His family weren't so much cherished and loved as they were possessions that were his and his alone.

Much has been learned about sociopathy by interviewing Kuklinski, but unfortunately none of this was used to shape and portray his real character in the movie. Nonetheless, the movie is worth seeing, but more as entertainment than enlightenment about Kuklinski's life of crime.