The Iceman (2012)

Directed by: Ariel Vromen
Country: USA

Review: Israeli-born film director Ariel Vromen’s third feature, “The Iceman”, was based on the real story of Richard Kuklinski (Michael Shannon), a dangerous contract killer and devoted family man. The film gives an idea of his life before has been arrested in 1986, to the surprise of his wife (Wynona Rider) and children who weren't aware of his real profession. Through his connection with Roy Demeo (Ray Liotta), Richard became a hitman by joining the Gambino family of New Jersey, but along his life he served other Mafia families in New York. As a sort of a joke, he used to say: ‘I’m Polish, so I work for everybody’. With more than 100 men killed by his cold hands, the suspicions and tension got out of control, and his family was put in jeopardy. “The Iceman” doesn’t present us anything that we haven’t seen before, relying on the same snitches, accusations, and consequent annihilations, but nonetheless I never lost interest in Kuklinski’s obscurity. The negative aspect here was Vromen’s direction, which not even Michael Shannon’s superb performance could conceal. Some scenes were abruptly introduced, seeming to have come from nowhere, and just giving us vague hints of important and determinant aspects in Kuklinski’s early life, especially regarding his violent father and criminal brother. “The Iceman” is watchable and occasionally gripping, but not so accurate in its story.