We close out November with one of the best dramatic films to come out of the 90s, Ang Lee’s The Ice Storm (1997). It’s a simple story, but how this Rick Moody novel was adapted into a movie perfectly embodies American families going through transition. Although it was highly praised by critics and viewers alike, this movie often slips by the radar. Lee takes human realness, struggling with the mundane, familial claustrophobia and sexual repression, then wraps it into a story that feels familiar. Perhaps, it may even hit too close to home for some.
▶️ Set around Thanksgiving in 1973, The Ice Storm explores the inner disconnection existing in two neighboring families, and also how they are individually (and secretly) involved with one another. We’ll discuss how the film looks at human desires and what happens when we suppress our feelings or decide to act on impulses. The themes of this film run deep, focusing on the political climate of the decade, the inability for parents and children to relate, subdued emotions, adulterous escapades and the sexual exploration parallel existing from adolescence to adulthood. We also go into how the ending of the film was an extremely bold move, along with how the all-star cast greatly assists in bringing this relatable story to life.
▶️ Picks of the Week focus on other films by Sigourney Weaver. Justin opted for 1993’s Dave, which not only stars Weaver, but also Kline of The Ice Storm. The Ivan Reitman film is about what happens when a presidential impersonator assumes the place of the real Commander-in-Chief. Lindsay chose Weaver’s gut-wrenching Gorillas in the Mist (1988), a biopic about the passionate primatologist and conservationist, Dian Fossey — her life’s mission, work with gorillas and untimely murder.
▶️ This week’s MurrayMoment takes us on the journey between Weaver and Billy Murray. They’re both very different types of actors, so is it possible they could come together on a grassroots stage drama?
▶️ Though our main feature is set in the 1970s, The Ice Storm is a timeless story. It’s not just a about people experiencing their miserable lives — it’s about realizing what your life has become and what how one chooses to react. The American Dream is over, but the hangover is just beginning.
Episode 80 : Beverly Hills Cop
Episode 79 : Waiting For Guffman
Episode 78 : Taxi Driver
Episode 77: Ghost World
Episode 76 : Dazed & Confused
Episode 75 : The Terminator
Episode 74 : Stoner Movie Special
Episode 73 : Dead Presidents
Episode 72 : Big Trouble In Little China
Episode 71 : The Fly (1986)
Episode 70 : Silence Of The Lambs
Episode 69 : 9 to 5
Episode 68 : Steel Magnolias
Episode 67 Wayne’s World
Episode 66 : Election
Episode 65 : Dawn Of The Dead (1978)
Episode 64 : Ginger Snaps
Episode 63 : Exorcist III
Episode 62 : Almost Famous
Episode 61 : Ace Ventura : Pet Detective
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