The Ice Harvest [WS]

Director: Harold Ramis

Overview

Harold Ramis' crime comedy The Ice Harvest stars John Cusack as Charlie August, a lawyer in Wichita, KS, who, as the film opens, steals over two million dollars from a gangster (Randy Quaid). Helping him in this endeavor is his sometimes partner Vic (Billy Bob Thornton). On Christmas Eve, Charlie attempts to get out of town with his part of the money and the woman he loves (Connie Nielsen), but a variety of hindrances stand in his way -- most problematically a terrible ice storm that has blanketed Wichita in a sheet of the slippery substance.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/09/2007
UPC:	0025192629624
Original Release:	2005
Rating:	R
Source:	MCA HOME
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:29:00
Sales rank:	43,166

Special Features

Alternate endings; Outtake with Billy Bob Thornton; Cracking the story; Beneath the harvest; Ice Cracking: Analysis of a Scene ; Audio commentary with director Harold Ramis

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

John Cusack	Charlie Arglist
Billy Bob Thornton	Vic Cavanaugh
Connie Nielsen	Renata
Lara Phillips	Rusti
Bill Noble	Culligan
Randy Quaid	Bill Guerrard
Oliver Platt	Pete Van Heuten
Brad Smith	Ronny
Ned Bellamy	Sidney
Mike Starr	Roy
T.J. Jagodowski	Officer Tyler
Meghan Maureen McDonough	Francie
Tab Baker	Dennis
William Dick	Manager
David Pasquesi	Councilman Williams
Laura Whyte	Dottie
Steve King	Stan
Justine Bentley	Sarabeth
Max Kirsch	Spencer
Shana Goodsell	Christian Girl
Mick Napier	Stroke
Lindsay Porter	Gladys
Brendan Donaldson	Clerk
Shelby Hyman	Shelby
Meredith Maresh	Pearl
Matthew Campobasso	Bar Patron
Diane Frances Fisher	Lounge Patron
Lori Ann Gerdisch	Bar Patron
Michael Kilcullen	Restaurant Busboy
Michael Stailey	Restaurant Patron
Jenny Wade	Cupcake
Dalton J. Homer Spaulding	Biscuit
David Kitay	Composer

Technical Credits

Robert Benton

Richard Russo

Robert Benton	Screenwriter,Executive Producer
Richard Russo	Screenwriter,Executive Producer
Albert Berger	Producer
Ron Yerxa	Producer
Glenn Williamson	Executive Producer
Jeanne McCarthy	Casting
Scott Smith	Sound/Sound Designer

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- The Ice Harvest
1. The Perfect Crime (Main Titles) [4:53]
2. In Over Your Head [4:40]
3. Stick to the Plan [3:20]
4. It's Christmas [1:36]
5. Getting Paranoid [3:02]
6. Old Acquaintance [4:59]
7. No Regrets [6:42]
8. Here's to You [3:01]
9. Man Down [3:24]
10. Desires & Urges [4:16]
11. In a Jam [3:16]
12. Last Chance [2:50]
13. Trunk Space [6:24]
14. Having Doubts [:24]
15. Done Talking [2:36]
16. Big Trouble [7:18]
17. Top Dawg [4:32]
18. Last Man Standing [8:27]
19. Mr. Nice Guy [4:08]
20. End Titles [4:08]

Menu

Disc #1 -- The Ice Harvest
Play
Scenes
Bonus Features
Alternate Ending #1
Alternate Ending #2
Outtake With Billy Bob Thornton
Cracking the Story
Beneath the Harvest
Ice Cracking: Analysis of a Scene
Feature Commentary With Director Harold Ramis: On/Off
Languages
Spoken Languages
English 5.1
Français 5.1
Feature Commentary With Director Harold Ramis
Subtitles
English SDH
Español
Français
Off

Editorial Reviews

Self-consciously mordant in the best neo-noir tradition, The Ice Harvest sports impeccable performances by its three stars and teems with the world-weary fatalism audiences expect from films of this type. On Christmas Eve in Wichita, Kansas, amiably crooked attorney Charlie Arglist (John Cusack) conspires with his low-life associate Vic Cavanaugh (Billy Bob Thornton) to cheat the local mob out of some ill-gained profits. Charlie’s hoping that a sudden cash infusion will make him more attractive to strip-club owner Renata (Connie Nielsen), with whom he’s been infatuated for some time. As might be expected, the supposedly airtight plan turns out to be riddled with holes -- and Charlie and Vic also begin thinking about double-crossing each other almost instantly. While the characters are types, writers Richard Russo and Robert Benton freshen them up with eccentricities and clever dialogue. Previously teamed in Pushing Tin, Cusack and Thornton work extraordinarily well together, and the customarily frosty Neilsen makes a perfect femme fatale. Veteran scene-stealer Oliver Platt gets some of the biggest laughs as Charlie's inebriated friend Pete. Although there’s never much doubt as to how things are going to end up, director Harold Ramis (Groundhog Day) does a fine job depicting the script's more novel situations. Why The Ice Harvest didn’t make more of an impact in theaters is a mystery, because it’s one of the most genuinely engaging black comedies in years.