The Iceman

Inspired by actual events, The Iceman tells the sordid story of ferocious hit man Richard Kuklinski (Michael Shannon), who murdered more than 100 men in and around New Jersey between 1948 and 1986. Opening with a question—“Do you have any regrets for the things you've done?”—the film flashes back to the time when hulking, young Richie begins dating sweet, unsuspecting Deborah Pellicotti (Winona Ryder). Richie tells Deborah that he dubs Disney cartoons, although he's actually bootlegging porno films—when he's not stabbing, shooting, or bludgeoning those who annoy him. Richie's malevolence attracts the attention of a local gangster (Ray Liotta) who hires him as an enforcer. Dubbed “the Iceman” because he freezes his blood-splattered victims' bodies to disguise their time of death, Richie begins working as an assassin for various East Coast crime families, often using cyanide since it both kills quickly and is difficult to detect in toxicology tests. By the time Richie and naïve Deborah marry and have a couple of daughters, he's earning enough to move to suburbia (a former altar boy, Richie insists that the girls attend Catholic school). Based on Anthony Bruno's titular true-crime biography (as well as an HBO documentary featuring interviews with the incarcerated Kuklinski before he died at age 70), The Iceman features supporting performances from James Franco, Stephen Dorff, Chris Evans, and David Schwimmer, but the centerpiece is certainly Shannon's menacing turn as a man leading a double life. Unfortunately, filmmaker Ariel Vromen offers no psychological insight into Kuklinski's sadistic, psychopathic behavior in this chilling neo-noir that essentially glorifies a despicable killer. Optional. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a “making-of” featurette (30 min.), and a behind-the-scenes featurette (8 min.). Bottom line: a solid extras package for an unremarkable film.] (S. Granger)