The Iceman - Nicely dark

I didn't know much about `The Iceman' going into seeing this and, I'm pleased to say, that I was glad I didn't. For it was a nice surprise. It's a real life case (or as `real life' as any Hollywood adaptation) of a hitman who tries to balances a `normal' home life with his rather brutal job.

I don't know anything about the case it was based on, but I know a good story when I see it. It's as dark as you'd expect it to be and, despite being a complete psychopath, we find ourselves strangely drawn to our antihero and unable to help ourselves from rooting for him, hoping that one day he'll see sense and put his day job in favour of putting his wife and daughters at the forefront of his life (all of whom he does seem to genuinely care about).

In some ways it reminded me of a cross between 'Dexter' and 'Goodfellas.' It had the same gangster-feel as 'Goodfellas' (and Ray Liota probably helped it along that way), while, at the same time, showing us a monster who was trying to lead a normal life away from (as Dexter would say) his `dark passenger.'

Michael Shannon is the titular assassin and he plays the part well, as a brooding, but strangely likable and doting father and husband to his family.  Naturally, they simply think he works doing sound effects for cartoons and have no real idea how he makes his money.  However, the cracks do start to show as the film progresses.  Winona Ryder is his stay-at-home wife who equally dotes on him and their two children.  She has less to do and evolve as a character, only really having to show more emotion when her happy little world starts to fall apart.  Chris 'Captain America' is on the cast list too, but if you think he looked different in the later 'Avengers' film when he has a beard, he's practically unrecognisable as a fellow hitman here.

If anything though, 'The Iceman' is a gangster film.  Expect plenty of characters who wouldn't feel out of place in an episode of 'The Sopranos' all shooting each other in the head for this disrespect or that.  It's not about the police trying to catch him, it's about him trying to survive the murky depths of the criminal underworld. It may not be as seminal as 'Goodfellas,' but if you like American gangster films, real life crime, or are just interested in hitmen, give it a go.

8/10 The Force is definitely strong with this one