• The Ice Storm (1997)

    In the 1970s, an outwardly wholesome family begins cracking at the seams over the course of a tumultuous Thanksgiving break. Frustrated with his job, the father, Ben (Kevin Kline), seeks fulfillment by cheating on his wife, Elena (Joan Allen), with neighborhood seductress Janey (Sigourney Weaver). Their teenage daughter, Wendy (Christina Ricci), dabbles in sexual affairs too -- with Janey's son Mikey (Elijah Wood). The family's strained relations continue to tauten until an ice storm strikes.

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The Ice Storm
72
metacriticBased on 23 Critics
88
Based on 58 Users

Release Date: September 27th, 1997

DVD Release Date: March 13th, 2001

R |1 hr 53 min

Plot Summary

In the 1970s, an outwardly wholesome family begins cracking at the seams over the course of a tumultuous Thanksgiving break. Frustrated with his job, the father, Ben (Kevin Kline), seeks fulfillment by cheating on his wife, Elena (Joan Allen), with neighborhood seductress Janey (Sigourney Weaver). Their teenage daughter, Wendy (Christina Ricci), dabbles in sexual affairs too -- with Janey's son Mikey (Elijah Wood). The family's strained relations continue to tauten until an ice storm strikes.

Cast: Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Henry Czerny, Adam Hann-Byrd, David Krumholtz, Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci, Jamey Sheridan

Director: Ang Lee

Genres: Drama

Production Co: Good Machine, Fox Searchlight

Distributors: Fox, 20th Century Fox

Keywords: Father , Melodramatic , Forbidden love , Temptation , Transformation , Small town , Family , Growing up , Amusing , 1970s , Son , House , Dark , Mother , Daughter , New York City

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Ratings & Reviews

  • 100
    Peter TraversRolling Stone

    This emotional climax of the film, with its warring glints of despair and hope, typifies the stunning achievement of The Ice Storm and confirms Lee as a director of the first rank. show more

  • 100
    Roger EbertChicago Sun-Times

    What we sense after the film is that the natural sources of pleasure have been replaced with higher-octane substitutes, which have burnt out the ability to feel joy. show more

  • 100
    James BerardinelliReelViews

    Provocative, entertaining, and impeccably crafted. show more

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com

Awards

Winner Actress in a Supporting Role
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (1998)
Winner Best Foreign Film
Guldbagge Award (1998)
Nominated Best Performance By an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Golden Globes (1998)
Nominated Adapted Screenplay
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (1998)