The Ice Harvest (2005)

Director:

Harold Ramis

Writers (WGA):

Richard Russo (screenplay) &
Robert Benton (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 November 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Thick Thieves. Thin Ice.

Plot:

A shady lawyer attempts a Christmas Eve crime, hoping to swindle the local mob out of some money. But his partner, a strip club owner, might have different plans for the cash.

Plot Keywords:

Shot In The Forehead | Drunk | Kicked In The Crotch | Drunkenness | Shot In The Chest

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

John Cusack	...	Charlie
Billy Bob Thornton	...	Vic
Lara Phillips	...	Rusti
Bill Noble	...	Culligan
Brad Smith	...	Ronny
Ned Bellamy	...	Sidney
Connie Nielsen	...	Renata
Mike Starr	...	Roy
T.J. Jagodowski	...	Officer Tyler
Meghan Maureen McDonough	...	Francie
Tab Baker	...	Dennis
Frank Gallo	...	Restaurateur
William Dick	...	Manager
Oliver Platt	...	Pete
David Pasquesi	...	Councilman Williams
Laura Whyte	...	Dottie
Steve King	...	Stan
Caroline Gehrke	...	Melissa
Justine Bentley	...	Sarabeth
Max Kirsch	...	Spencer (as Max Kirsh)
Shana Goodsell	...	Christian Girl
Ryan Ourth	...	Boyfriend
Mick Napier	...	Stroke
Lindsay Porter	...	Gladys
Brendan Donaldson	...	Clerk
Randy Quaid	...	Bill Guerrard
Shelby Hyman	...	Shelby
Meredith Maresh	...	Pearl (as Merideth Maresh)
Dalton J. Homer Spaulding	...	Biscuit
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joseph Luis Caballero	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Diane Frances Fisher	...	Lounge Patron (uncredited)
Lori Ann Gerdisch	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Michael Kilcullen	...	Restaurant Busboy (uncredited)
Michael Stailey	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Rick Touhy	...	Santa Claus (uncredited)
Jenny Wade	...	Cupcake (uncredited)

Directed by
Harold Ramis

Writing credits (WGA)
Richard Russo		(screenplay) &
Robert Benton		(screenplay)
Scott Phillips		(novel)

Produced by
Robert Benton	....	executive producer
Albert Berger	....	producer
Thomas J. Busch	....	co-producer (as Thomas Busch)
Jim Fishman	....	associate producer
Richard Russo	....	executive producer
Laurel A. Ward	....	associate producer (as Laurel Ward)
Glenn Williamson	....	executive producer
Ron Yerxa	....	producer

Original Music by
David Kitay

Cinematography by
Alar Kivilo

Film Editing by
Lee Percy

Casting by
Jeanne McCarthy

Production Design by
Patrizia von Brandenstein

Art Direction by
Gary Baugh

Set Decoration by
Tricia Schneider

Costume Design by
Susan Kaufmann

Makeup Department
Karen Lynn Accattato	....	first assistant makeup artist
Mary 'Dugan' Buono	....	key hair stylist (as Mary Buono)
Chelo	....	assistant hair stylist
Deborah K. Dee	....	assistant hair stylist (as Deborah Dee)
Lynne K. Eagan	....	hair stylist: Mr. Thornton (as Lynne Eagan)
Lynne K. Eagan	....	makeup artist: Mr. Thornton (as Lynne Eagan)
Jonah Levy	....	special makeup effects artist
Chip Williams	....	special makeup effects artist
Denise Wynbrandt	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Thomas J. Busch	....	unit production manager
Wileen Dragovan	....	assistant unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jennifer Deigl	....	second second assistant director
James Giovannetti Jr.	....	first assistant director
Richard S. Lederer	....	second assistant director (as Richard Lederer)

Art Department
Frank Coronado	....	storyboard artist
Noreen Coyne	....	art department coordinator
Katie Gajewski	....	art department intern
Brad Good	....	assistant property master
Kristin Hanson	....	art department assistant
Michael V. Nichols	....	set dresser
Troy Osman	....	construction coordinator
Kerry Sanders	....	set designer
Larry Szymanowski	....	art stand-by
Matthew Tufano	....	on-set dresser

Sound Department
Gina Alfano	....	supervising adr editor (as Gina R. Alfano)
Michael Barry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ron Bochar	....	sound designer
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Ethan Eunson-Conn	....	apprentice sound editor
David Flynch	....	foley editor (as Dave B. Flynch)
Jim Gaudio	....	cable person
Paul Hsu	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Hsu	....	supervising sound editor
Barbara Issak	....	adr editor
Bobby Johanson	....	adr mixer
Jason Johnston	....	boom operator
Tony Martinez	....	adr editor
Branka Mrkic	....	dialogue editor (as Branka Mrkic-Tana)
Rebecca Nicolaou	....	adr editor
Jacob Ribicoff	....	foley supervisor
Lynn Sable	....	assistant adr editor
Scott D. Smith	....	sound mixer
Steve F.B. Smith	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Alexa Zimmerman	....	assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
Bruce Ahlfeld	....	special effects assistant (as Bruce D. Ahlfeld)
Raymond L. Bernadin	....	special effects assistant (as Ray Bernardin)
Lester Bern	....	special effects assistant
Richard Bieschke	....	special effects assistant
Guy Clayton Jr.	....	special effects coordinator (as Guy Clayton)
Russell Elwell	....	special effects assistant
Bill Kennedy	....	assistant special effects coordinator
Nick Lozzora	....	special effects assistant
Carmine Pignataro	....	special effects assistant
John J. Slove Jr.	....	special effects construction coordinator
Jonah Levy	....	moldmaker (uncredited)
Jonah Levy	....	painter (uncredited)
Jonah Levy	....	sculptor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Barb Benoit	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Dennis Berardi	....	visual effects supervisor
Kris Brockman	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Mark Chong	....	technical developer: Mr. X Inc.
Rob Del Ciancio	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Bonnie Dickson	....	tape operator
Sasha Dragun	....	systems administrator: Mr. X Inc.
Shane Glading	....	3D artist: Mr. X Inc.
Rob Gyorgy	....	digital compositor: Technicolor Creative Services (as Rob 'Rev' Gyorgy)
Noel Hooper	....	digital compositing supervisor: Mr. X Inc.
Bryan Jones	....	compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Jef Lonn	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Brian Lui	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Chad Malbon	....	producer: Technicolor
Seth Martiniuk	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Sarah McMurdo	....	visual effects production manager
Vladimir Popovic	....	systems administrator: Mr. X Inc.
Aaron Pozzer	....	3D artist: Mr. X Inc.
Eric J. Robertson	....	visual effects producer
Linda Rose	....	in-house accountant: Mr. X Inc.
Vicki Silva	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
David Singer	....	operations Manager: Mr. X Inc.
Dev Singh	....	production coordinator: Mr. X Inc.
Jason Snea	....	lead compositor: TCS Toronto
Aaron Weintraub	....	compositing supervisor
Aaron Weintraub	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Sarah Wormsbecher	....	visual effects coordinator: Technicolor

Stunts
Joe Bucaro III	....	stunt double
Tobiasz Daszkiewicz	....	stunt truck driver
James Fierro	....	stunts
Steve Fite	....	stunt double
Mark Harper	....	stunts
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt coordinator
Tom Lowell	....	stunts
Chris Nolte	....	stunt double: Mike Starr
Carl Paoli	....	stunt double: John Cusack
Linda Perlin	....	stunt double
Brian Peters	....	stunts
Scott Philyaw	....	stunt double: Oliver Platt
Scott Philyaw	....	stunt double: Randy Quaid
Shawnna Thibodeau	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Faires Anderson	....	steadicam operator
Steve Bernstein	....	epk videographer
Cortland Boyd	....	key grip
Donald Carlson	....	first assistant camera
Chris Collar	....	grip
Jaime Dawkins	....	grip
Brandan Dennehy	....	camera intern
Brian DuPont	....	grip
Joe Gajewski	....	additional grip
Zachary Gannaway	....	camera loader
Chris Glomp	....	rigging gaffer
Daniel Herman	....	electrical intern
Charles S. Hodes	....	still photographer
Timothy Jipping	....	rigging grip
Michael Kohnhorst	....	director of photography: second unit
Matthew LeCrone	....	electrician
Joseph M. Lyons	....	set lighting technician
Blake E. Matthys	....	grip
Mark E. Matthys	....	best boy grip
Keith Pokorski	....	crane operator: Technocrane
Stephanie Power	....	electrician
Rick Rios	....	electrician
Richard Sobin	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Karina Teismann	....	grip
Scott Thiele	....	grip
Rick Thomas	....	gaffer
Dan Urbain	....	electrician
Mark N. Woods	....	crane operator: Technocrane

Casting Department
Nicole Abellera	....	casting assistant
Sharon D. King	....	extras casting
Matt Miller	....	casting associate: Chicago
Marvin Nelson	....	extras casting
Mickie Paskal	....	casting: Chicago
Jennifer Rudnicke	....	casting: Chicago

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Patrick Caulfield	....	key set costumer
Jennifer Jobst	....	costume supervisor
Rachael Ohman	....	costume production assistant
Gina Panno	....	costumer
Heather Pollock	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Julie Carr	....	associate editor
Adam Geiger	....	assistant editor
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Jordan Lindblad	....	apprentice editor
Kellen McDowell	....	post-production assistant
Lawrence Howard Williams	....	post digital media operator

Music Department
Nancy Allen	....	music editor
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearance
Tass Filipos	....	music editor (as Anastassios Filipos)
David Kitay	....	orchestrator
David Kitay	....	score producer
William Levine	....	orchestrator (as Bill Levine)
Tracy McKnight	....	music supervisor
Dan Wallin	....	music scoring mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Michael R. Cairo	....	driver

Other crew
Stephen Andrzejewski	....	location manager
Jeremy Beiermann	....	production secretary
Senica Billingsley	....	location intern
Harold Caldwell	....	payroll accountant (as Harold R. Caldwell)
Nicholas Carranza	....	office production assistant
Cynthia Castillo-Hill	....	accounting intern
Doug Dearth	....	assistant: Mr. Cusack
Mary Dehne	....	stand-in
Elliott Eisman	....	production office intern
Diane Frances Fisher	....	double
Diane Frances Fisher	....	stand-in
Jay Floyd	....	clearance administrator
Jennifer Zolten Freed	....	post-production accountant: Trevanna Post
Sean Gesell	....	assistant: Mr. Ramis
P.J. Haines	....	chef
Karon Hamlet	....	accounting clerk
Amy Holliday	....	script supervisor
Dave Holstein	....	production intern
Rosa Yang Kato	....	assistant location manager (as Rosa Yang Kato)
Michael Kilcullen	....	stand-in
Daniel Kenji Levin	....	production assistant
Aurelie Levy	....	assistant: Mr. Cusack
Pat McCarthy	....	production coordinator
Thomas J. McDonough	....	set production assistant
Heather Lynn Muth	....	stand-in
Tom Nicoll	....	production assistant
Sara Nudelman	....	assistant: Ms. Nielsen
Noel Olken	....	location assistant
Monica Perez Gelbman	....	post-production accountant
Jeremy Pinkwater	....	location production assistant
Adam Pray	....	production assistant
Stefan Rand	....	production assistant
Kim Ronstadt	....	first assistant accountant
Maria Roxas	....	location scout
Nikki Scavo	....	production assistant
Kristin Scott	....	assistant: Mr. Thornton
Anita Showalter	....	stand-in
Jennifer Sokolov	....	set production intern
Helen Stergiou	....	accounting intern
Adrienne Swan	....	production accountant
Mahogany Walker	....	extras coordinator
Amber Waters	....	production intern
Bill Whirity	....	production intern
Richard Wolgemuth	....	location intern
Richard Wolgemuth	....	production intern
Cliff Zimowski	....	location intern
Cliff Zimowski	....	production office intern

Production Companies

• Focus Features
• Bona Fide Productions

Distributors

• Focus Features (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Independent Films (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Nordisk Film (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Odeon (2005) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Pyramide Distribution (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2006) (Argentina) (all media)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Mr. X (visual effects)
• Technicolor Creative Services (additional compositing and visual effects)
• Pacific Title (opticals)

Other Companies

• American Roadshow Motion Picture And Television Catering  catering
• C-5  post-production sound facility
• Chicago Audio Works  production sound services
• David Kramer's Looping Group  background vocals
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Margarita Mix  adr recording
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Movie Movers  transportation
• Now Clear This!  clearance services (as Now Clear This Research)
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Pivotal Post  editing facilities
• Robert Rosenblatt Esq.  soundtrack consultant, "Little Drummer Boy" re-recording
• Sound One Corporation  adr recording
• Sound One Corporation  sound mixing facility
• Technicolor  color
• Trevanna Post  post-production accounting
• Universal Studios Sound Facilities  adr recording (as Universal Sound)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

USA:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Norway:15 | Australia:MA | Singapore:M18 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Finland:K-15 | Canada:18A (Alberta/Manitoba/Nova Scotia) | Germany:16 | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Ontario) | UK:15 | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/16 | USA:R (certificate #39360) | Argentina:13 | South Korea:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Iceland:16 | France:U | Netherlands:12 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Carpentersvillle, Illinois, USA

Company:

Focus Features

Trivia:

John Cusack's character's last name, Arglist, translates to "guile" or "deceitfulness" in German.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Vic shoots the chest he points the gun at the passenger side of the chest. When they pull the chest out of the car the bullet hole is on the driver side of the chest.

Quotes:

Charlie Arglist: It's Christmas! Everyone's nice on Christmas!
Vic Cavanaugh: Only morons are nice on Christmas.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008)

Soundtrack:

O Tanenbaum

Blue Christmas for Cusack and Thornton in Seriocomic Noir Thriller

THE ICE HARVEST (TIH), another quirky triumph from Focus Features, should really be sold as a thriller with darkly comedic undertones a la FARGO rather than a comedy with thriller elements a la GROSSE POINTE BLANK (even though John Cusack looks remarkably like he did in GPB here). It's a subtle but crucial difference, and a successful change in tone for director Harold Ramis. The suspenseful yet surreally funny Kansas-set story of nervous Mob lawyer John Cusack teaming up with laid-back yet ruthless Billy Bob Thornton to steal over $2 million from Cusack's boss Randy Quaid, only to find themselves stuck in Wichita by an ice storm and all manner of goof-ups and goofballs, with a hit man on their tail to-boot, TIH tells its twisted tale as if my fave thriller author Jim Thompson (THE GRIFTERS, THE GETAWAY, POP. 1280, among others) wrote it in a jovial mood -- though I suspect that in a jovial mood, Thompson would have been more likely to smirk than belly-laugh. Set on Christmas Eve, TIH starts with the best unexpected holiday-themed credits since 1947's LADY IN THE LAKE and only gets more gleefully malevolent from there. You know our antiheroes are literally in for a blue Christmas, thanks to Alar Kivilo's sleek azure-tinged photography. Cusack and Thornton make such a good team that I'm now eager to rent their previous collaboration, PUSHING TIN, even though I've heard mixed reviews of that, too. Oliver Platt has been touted as TIH's scene-stealer in the role of Cusack's friend who stole his wife and, having lived to regret it, spends the whole film getting drunk and hilariously obnoxious. Platt's a hoot, all right, but Thornton has the slyest lines; his explanation of how his wife ends up killed by the hit man is evilly funny, all the more so for Thornton's matter-of-fact delivery. Connie Nielsen also deserves kudos for stealing her own scenes more subtly and sensuously as the sexy owner of The Sweet Cage, one of many strip joints in town that Cusack frequents (I came away from the movie thinking strip joints must be a cottage industry in Wichita). Nielsen looks like a Petty Girl or Varga Girl come to life, fresh from the pages of a vintage Esquire issue. If you want a wicked little tongue-in-cheek noir as an antidote to the season's holiday cheer, TIH may well be your cup of hemlock. (When TIH comes out on DVD, rent it along with BAD SANTA, FARGO, and/or GROSSE POINTE BLANK and have yourself a merry little day of eccentric movie mayhem!)