The Ice Storm 1997

Critics score:
84 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Susan Stark, Detroit News: Perceptively detailed in both the directing and acting, The Ice Storm commands strictest attention from start to finish. Read more

Janet Maslin, New York Times: Lee daringly chooses to keep his story's motivational mysteries unexplained, leaving this richly observed film open to the viewer's assessments. Yet the sense of imbalance is ever-present and strong. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: It's unfortunate that as capable a team as director Lee and screenwriter-producer Schamus should have become fascinated with such unpromising material. Read more

Entertainment Weekly: Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: A remarkable film that takes us straight into John Updike territory, duplicating on screen exactly what the writer achieves on the page. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The Ice Storm is perceptive about people, relationships, and human nature, and there's not a single moment in the entire 112 minute running length that rings false. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Despite its mordant undertones, the film is often satirical and frequently very funny, and quietly observant in its performances. Read more

Charles Taylor, Salon.com: I don't know when I've seen actors realize so many affecting moments in such a muddled conception. Lee's aestheticized approach is its own kind of ice storm. Read more

Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle: [An] impressive adaptation of the Rick Moody novel. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: A thoroughly enjoyable blend of comedy and melodrama... Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: A well-observed and deftly performed examination of upper-middle-class emotional deep freeze... Read more