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The Ice Storm

The Ice Storm

Drama · 1997

In the weekend after thanksgiving 1973 the Hood family is skidding out of control. Then an ice storm hits, the worst in a century.

Movie details

The Ice Storm

“It was 1973, and the climate was changing.”

1997 Drama 1h 53m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.9 / 10

Community rating

In the weekend after thanksgiving 1973 the Hood family is skidding out of control. Then an ice storm hits, the worst in a century.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Ice Storm?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Auto Focus

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Ang Lee

Written by

James Schamus

Kevin Kline

Kevin Kline

Ben Hood

Joan Allen

Joan Allen

Elena Hood

Sigourney Weaver

Sigourney Weaver

Janey Carver

Jamey Sheridan

Jamey Sheridan

Jim Carver

Christina Ricci

Christina Ricci

Wendy Hood

Tobey Maguire

Tobey Maguire

Paul Hood

Elijah Wood

Elijah Wood

Mikey Carver

Court is in session

Put The Ice Storm on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.