The Ice Harvest (R, 2005)

Mob lawyer Charlie Arglist (John Cusack) tries to commit the "perfect crime" in THE ICE HARVEST. Charlie has just stolen $2 million from his gangster client (Randy Quaid). Worse, he's working with seamy strip club owner Vic (Billy Bob Thornton). Charlie's ex-wife's new boozing husband, Pete (Oliver Platt), self-medicates to deal his miserable home life. Charlie and Pete bond on Christmas Eve over their shared experience of violence and fear, and Pete's childish rebellion against his in-laws and abusive, icy wife. As Charlie careens between brash and tentative, he follows the usual noiry hero's route, descending though he knows better. The partnership with Vic is bound to unravel, and then he meets sultry Renata (Connie Nielsen), who tries to seduce him to get what she wants but is clearly not interested in him. Charlie appears to know this, but he uses Renata too. She keeps his mind off what he sees as his most immediate anxiety, for a minute anyway.

For all Charlie's running around -- in driving rain and icy road conditions, to boot -- the film never picks up speed. If Charlie appears energetic, if not exactly inspired, it's only because he's in constant, circular motion. Surrounded by antic dunderheads and furious bunglers, he responds as if mystified, though he understands and can manipulate such behavior. Charlie's positioned twice -- as conventional, self-aware hero and dim anti-hero, both sustained by the oddly convincing, refreshingly subtle, and relentlessly appealing John Cusack.

Studio: Focus Features
Director: Harold Ramis
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen, John Cusack
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 88 minutes
Theatrical release: November 23, 2005
DVD release: February 28, 2006
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: violence, language and sexuality/nudity.