100-250 murders, this is the legacy of Richard ‘The Iceman’ Kuklinkski
a contract killer for the New York mob from the 60’s until his capture in 1986.
That’s not just the synopsis for the film, in case you didn’t know this is a
true story. We see so much violence on television and in movies…what sets this
story apart? Well…it’s like this; there isn’t a movie with a more terrifying killer
than Kuklinski was in real life. Reason being, he genuinely loved his family.
It’s one thing for someone to have a psychosis and fake a normal life while
being a monster underneath, think American
Psycho; it’s the fact that someone capable of such love is also capable of
such cold evil, the realization that we are all capable of even the most
heinous things. The Iceman covers the
life of Kuklinski, played superbly by Michael Shannon, starting with he and his
wife’s (Winona Ryder) first date. Concurrently his career as a professional
killer, and disturbing double life, starts at roughly the same time. The film
follows his career as he perfects his craft, battles his demons, and tries desperately
to keep his two lives separate.
Michael Shannon. That name could be my entire review, if you’re
looking for a reason to see this flick you don’t need read any further. Shannon
has always been one of my favorite under the radar actors in Hollywood coming
to my attention with roles in Bad Boys 2,
Pearl Harbor and 8 Mile. He’s just one of those guys that leaves a permanent imprint
on your memory of a film, regardless of the size of his role. It should be
noted that the quality of said roles has DRASTICALLY improved over the last 5
years even earning him an Oscar nomination. If there were any questions as to
his ability as an actor The Iceman will
provide all of the answers you need. An amazing split of demeanor from the cold
ease with which he kills to the subtle but warm smile he always has around his
family. Shannon creates a character that you could easily see living down the
street from you…THAT is what makes this movie. While Shannon is the stand-out
the entire cast seems right at home.
This isn’t suprising with guys like Ray Liotta and Robert Davi playing
top level gangsters but hey, if you’re good at something why stop doing it?
Chris Evans, a guy who is able to make any character likeable, does his magic
this time around playing Kuklinski’s sometime partner Mr. Freezy, so named for
the ice cream truck he drives. Freezy is a kind of mentor to Kuklinski,
teaching him the finer points of murder and introducing Kuklinksi to a
method of concealing evidence that would
earn him the moniker ‘The Iceman’. Somehow Evan’s makes us understand why
Kuklinski would associate with a complete psychopath. Keep an eye out for an
unrecognizable David Schwimmer.
I have to give credit to Ariel Vroman, Anthony Bruno, and
Micheal Land for the way in which they condensed and crafted the story. Like
most high profile killers the details Kuklinski’s given about his career have
varied greatly, claiming 100-250 murders depending on the interview and even
claiming that he killed Jimmy Hoffa. Filmmakers/writers have a tendency to eat up the sensational but the reservation shown in what made it to
the screen is a true credit to the story. Again, the true effectiveness of this
film is that anyone we know could have a secret this dark. By keeping his
victims mostly nameless and sticking with the lower number of total bodies it’s
all the more believable. The other part of the film that deserves to be
mentioned is the way in which they handled the balance of Kuklinski’s dual
lives. There’s a point in the movie where he is suspended, for lack of a better
term, by the mob and can no longer carry out hits. Slowly he unravels, at first
you suspect he’s doing so for the same reason any unemployed family man does,
but then you have an amazing revelation. Murder is therapy for him. It is the
outlet which allows him to be a loving and calm husband and father. Once this
is taken away you see him begin to show anger to and around his family,
increasingly so until he realizes this and moves to find another way to work.
It’s a nice little touch that really explains a lot. Even the ending of the film,
which some will say felt rushed and out of character for Kuklinski, was
extremely smart. It IS rushed and out of character, but for a reason…he just
wanted out of the business and his family safe. He wanted it NOW so he would
have been acting rash, again the ability to hold back certain things makes the
story that much more effective.
Obviously I dug the movie. While it’s not the big budget,
high-adrenaline, CGI-fest of Star Trek:
Into Darkness it’s completely worth a watch. Avoid the throngs of opening
weekend fans, see The Iceman this
weekend and catch Star Trek on its
second week. Lastly I pray that with this film and June’s Man of Steel, Michael Shannon will get the consistent respect and
appreciation he’s deserved for so many years.
