The Ice Storm (EOTWS)

End Of The Week Shorts #13 extract: The Ice Storm (1997)

Ohhh... it's been a while since I felt true disdain for a movie. 

The Ice Storm is rife with vapid, boring characters whose conflicts are not compelling even in the slightest. No matter how hard Ang Lee tries to have us sympathise with the plights of the upper-class, he goes about it all wrong as there is nothing and no one to truly empathise with. In such, Lee fails to capture the humanity and inner-workings of his characters, reducing many of them into inarticulate morons supported only by some dreamy sound design. Plain and simple, this movie has a disgusting tone that is never overcome. The Ice Storm is then pretentious, ugly and utterly contrived (especially in its final 'revelatory' act). 

I can see exactly why many people would enjoy this movie (because of its themes and imagery), but, I don't see how anyone could look past this nasty veneer.