‘The Iceman’ Trailer: Michael Shannon Loves His Family, Contract Killing
After the dual disappointments ofKilling Me SoftlyandGangster Squad, I’m feeling a little burned out on mob movies at the moment. So maybe it’s just my mood that has me unimpressed with the new trailer forThe Iceman. On the one hand, directorAriel Vromenseems to have a flair for visuals, the cast looks strong, and the fact-based premise is intriguing. On the other, it all looks so tiresomely familiar.
Michael Shannonstars as real-life hitman Richard Kuklinski, who allegedly racked up over 100 kills over a four-decade career. He makes good money whacking people for gangster Roy Demeo (genre stapleRay Liotta), until an incident involving Demeo’s underling (David Schwimmer) forces Kuklinski out of their operation. He then teams up with freelance killer Robert Pronge (Chris Evans), which comes with its own complications.Winona Ryderalso stars, as Kuklinski’s oblivious wife. Watch the new trailer after the jump.
[viaThe Playlist]
Whether he’s playing a dirty cop, a military spouse, a mentally ill truth-teller, or an apocalypse-fearing family man, Shannon’s a force to be reckoned with. As the lead ofThe Iceman, he seems to have plenty to sink his teeth into. But at this point it takes more than a pedigreed cast and some slick violence to stand out, and the film surrounding Shannon may not be up to his level. The subplot about Kuklinski’s family somehow having absolutely no idea that he’s a cold-blooded killer seems promising, but otherwiseThe Icemanseems more concerned with re-treading familiar ground.
But, like I said, maybe I’m just being pessimistic. Reviews so far have been mixed to good, with Shannon and Vromen getting singled out for praise. Vromen andMorgan Land’s screenplay, in contrast, is getting somewhat less love.
