The Iceman has a fast pace at the expense of telling the story with the level of detail it demands. It's a well acted, suitably violent gangster flick that moves through all the usual tropes in a thoroughly engaging fashion, it just skips over entire decades of plot and character in a way that leaves you wanting more.
Michael Shannon is absolutely chilling as the titular hitman. Making up for any narrative shortcomings with a restrained performance in which his greatest weapon is his eyes which really communicate how cold he is. Chris Evans only has a small part and yet he leaves a lasting impression as a fellow hitman with plenty of charm and no moral code.
Ariel Vromen's direction avoids subtlety for a film with its fair share of murder montages, abrupt shifts in time and a grand final speech. It's all familiar but it's done with a technical competence that makes it all work. Haim Mazar's score also rejects subtlety with a bleak score that matches the muted visuals.
Michael Shannon is absolutely chilling as the titular hitman. Making up for any narrative shortcomings with a restrained performance in which his greatest weapon is his eyes which really communicate how cold he is. Chris Evans only has a small part and yet he leaves a lasting impression as a fellow hitman with plenty of charm and no moral code.
Ariel Vromen's direction avoids subtlety for a film with its fair share of murder montages, abrupt shifts in time and a grand final speech. It's all familiar but it's done with a technical competence that makes it all work. Haim Mazar's score also rejects subtlety with a bleak score that matches the muted visuals.