The Iceman

This film had long eluded me, and I was surprised why that was the case. The story of a notorious hitman with a truly balanced cast... It had many attributes that could have led to an above-average film capable of standing up to its most refined competition. However, it was not without its flaws. Casting Michael Shannon as Richard Kuklinski was, in my opinion, a masterstroke; his impeccably mesmerizing gaze was simply the cherry on top (he proved this here and in other films, and he's a brilliant actor). But the rest of the cast disappointed me. Winona Ryder unnecessarily overacted in tense dialogues, and Ray Liotta was given ample screen time, but his storyline was left unfinished and abruptly cut off. While Liotta appeared quite often, Chris Evans faced the opposite problem as an interesting character who was woefully underutilized. The film does have its brutal moments, but The Iceman lacked a greater drive and push. The second half dragged on, and suddenly the final arrest came. The filmmakers had set things up so well, but in the second hour, it felt like something shifted, and the film dropped a level. It’s a pity. I give it 63%. (2019-07-08)