
The Iceman (2012) marks a chillingly freezing tumble into the world of a selfless man, Richard Kuklinski, who balances, comfortably, a quiet suburban life with a highly intensive job as a contract killer. A tense, violent descent directed by Ariel Vromen inducts Michael Shannon for leading a character so detachedly central. Yet, in the face of Shannon's powerhouse performance, there’s a nagging feeling that this ice cube could have been more polished.

Frozen Perfection
Michael Shannon as Richard Kuklinski is to watch a glacier creep across the screen: huge, deliberate, and with a terrifying inevitability. Shannon's ease with flipping between devoted family man and cold-blooded killer is, quite simply, chilling. He stares with a stillness that could freeze boiling water, and his physical presence alone is enough to make your spine tighten. Still, for viewers who have read about the actual Kuklinski or even the book The Iceman: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer, Shannon's performance, brilliant as it is, doesn't quite square with the mental picture. Kuklinski, in real life, was more nondescript, able to melt into crowds with a kind of unsettling plainness. Shannon, on the other hand, is a hulking storm cloud of menace. Perfect for Hollywood, but not quite the Kuklinski from the grainy interviews.
A Mixed Bag of Ice Cubes
The ensemble cast is a blessing and a curse. Winona Ryder brings a surprising warmth to Deborah Kuklinski, a woman blissfully ignorant of her husband's double life. Ray Liotta and Chris Evans complete the rogues gallery, with Liotta playing a nervy mob boss, and Evans a hitman with dubious personal hygiene. Evans is the real hoot, however, and a testament to the idea that even Captain America can appear terrifying if someone gives him a bad haircut and a toolbox full of murder weapons. Occasionally, the procession of famous faces threatens to overwhelm. It’s hard to lose yourself in the story when you’re thinking, “Oh, look! It’s David Schwimmer with a mustache!
A Frosty Finish
The film’s muted color palette and moody cinematography nail the gritty 1970s aesthetic, but it also feels like it's trying a bit too hard to be edgy. It's as if every frame is whispering, "Look how bleak and serious I am." While that works to a degree, at times it overshadows the story, a tale already gut-wrenching without the theatrics. There are times when the pace seems uneven, too-long scenes, and other places where scenes rush through much too fast. This gives the movie at times an almost choppy quality that's more disorienting than engaging.
Partial but Reasonable
Although I try to write my reviews from my perspective only, this movie was released 14 years ago and I did read some previously written comments. Critics and audiences alike have pointed out some of the film’s shortcomings. While many praised Shannon’s performance, there’s a shared sentiment that the story skims the surface of Kuklinski’s psyche rather than diving into the icy depths. Viewers expecting a more nuanced exploration of the man behind the murders might leave feeling cold. Others criticized the film for glossing over the grittier details of Kuklinski’s crimes in favor of dramatized Hollywood moments. On the flip side, the compact runtime and focused narrative earned praise for not overstaying their welcome. As one IMDb user succinctly put it, “It’s like a good whiskey—smooth, strong, and over too soon.”
A Cool Watch, but Not a Killer One
The Iceman is an engaging film, anchored by Michael Shannon’s unforgettable performance. While it doesn’t quite capture the full scope of Kuklinski’s chilling reality, it’s still a tense and entertaining ride through the life of one of America’s most infamous hitmen. The movie gets a lot right—the atmosphere, the acting, the haunting sense of duality in Kuklinski's life—but leaves just enough on the table to make you wonder what could have been. It's a frosty treat that melts a little too quickly, leaving behind a lingering sense of what-ifs.