John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton star in The Ice Harvest, a
crime-comedy directed by Harold Ramis. Cusack plays Charlie Arglist, a lawyer in
Wichita Falls, Kansas, who also works for Bill Guerrard, the local mob boss. One
Christmas Eve, Charlie embezzles over two million dollars from Bill with the
help of his good buddy Vic (Thornton). The plan goes very smoothly, save for
a bad ice storm that hit’s the area, keeping the buddies in town until the
morning. Vincent keeps the loot with him, and he tells Charlie to just remain
calm and spend the night just like any other Christmas Eve. But that’s easier
said than done for Charlie, who’s something of a worrywart who’s got a crush on
Renata, the sultry owner of a strip tease joint. Now that he’s rich, Charlie
just wants to run off with Renata. Yet Charlie and Vic’s plans go awry as
their last night in Wichita Falls turns out to be a very long and eventful one.
John Cusack is great as Charlie, an over-anxious sleaze who’s in way over his
head. And Thornton turns in his usual superb performance, this time playing
against type as the harder-edged Vic. Olivier Platt nearly steals the film with
his hilarious part as Pete, Charlie’s drunken buddy with a very large chip on
his shoulder. Connie Neilsen is also very good--and very sexy--as Renata, and
Randy Quaid turns in a fine, menacing performance as Bill. Director Ramis
effectively sets up the entire plot very efficiently, and the humor is genuinely
funny without being too slapstick. Special features include a commentary by
Director Ramis, two alternate endings, an outtake scene with Billy Bob Thornton,
as well as a couple of making of features. With its blend of comedy, crime
thriller chills and gore, The Ice Harvest might be seen as Fargo-lite. Yet Ramis
makes this story distinctive enough to stand on its own. If nothing else, The
Ice Harvest should make a nice double feature with Fargo.
--SF
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