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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video:
Asian American director Ang Lee sums up America in the early 1970s by focusing on the arrival of the sexual revolution in the 'burbs. Isolationism within a family, consumerism, and selfishness are personified by a cast that captures the self-obsession within two New England families. As the children struggle awkwardly with adolescence, their parents stumble through sexual experimentation. In the days of Watergate and Vietnam, society is breaking boundaries and ignoring convention. Following suit, these families are eschewing polite barriers and social taboos, with disastrous results. The 'ice storm' of the title refers not only to a natural phenomenon but is a (rather heavy-handed) metaphor for a pervasive emotional temperament. The entire cast delivers textured, finely nuanced performances. This movie lingers in the psyche not only for the scope of the tragedy at its conclusion, but for Lee's often humorous and stingingly accurate assessment of pop culture. Based on Rick Moody's novel, this won the best-screenplay award at Cannes in 1997. --Rochelle O'Gorman
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - 3 stars out of 4
The Bottom Line:
A cold but incisive look into the American suburban life of the 1970s, Ang Lee's The Ice Storm is a worthy film even if it keeps viewers a bit distanced from its subject and characters.
Rating:  - A "Chilling" Portrayal...
The Ice Storm is representative of those iconic days when the "me" generation explored all things daring, and it also depicts chillingly that the selfish behavior of the adults can have dire consequences.
Kevin Kline, Joan Allen and Sigourney Weaver are the key adults in this film, which highlights one holiday season in a Connecticut community -- with the festive dinners and holiday parties -- and reveals the superficial lifestyle of those who are bored by the surfeit of material possessions ... Read More
Rating: - KALEIDOSCOPIC-CRYSTAL VIEWS & MORALITY SHARDS
The Ice Storm is one of the best films ever released. Ang Lee proved to be one of our great contemporary film directors and he sure did justice to Rick Moody's novel. In fact, most people who enjoyed both will tell you that, surprisingly, they prefer the film over the book. One of the main reasons (besides great directing and solid acting) is the unforgettable music.
From the opening titles, Mychael Danna's hypnotic melodies take you effortlessly two generations back, in affluent yet creepy American ... Read More
Rating:  - Twisted tale.
The Ice Storm directed Ang Lee is a strange and provocative film about swingers and families on the brink of chaos. An all-star helps which include Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Tobey Maguire, and Christina Ricci. The characters are mainly lost and self-absorbed so don't expect strong and kind people here. Ricci's character is pretty sick and vile but she nails the performance. The ending is a bit of a letdown, this film is a mixed bag for me.
Rating: - Behind closed doors
Two neighboring families experience a long and ultimately life-changing Thanksgiving weekend. The story moves from one house to the other where the adults are all bored with their spouses (but not with their neighbor's spouse) and the kids are restless and curious about sex. Everyone feels misunderstood and a big ice storm is coming.
This adult drama is full of outstanding performances: Kevin Kline and a luminously lovely Joan Allen play husband and wife who are both filled with pain and longing. ... Read More
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