The Ice Harvest Blu-ray Review

"The Ice Harvest" on Blu-ray, presented by Kino Lorber, delivers an AVC-encoded image at a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Sourced from an older master, the presentation falls short of typical HD clarity. Heavy filtering substantially diminishes detail, leading to waxy faces and muted backgrounds. Notably, instances of haloing further detract from the image quality. While colors struggle to maintain vibrancy amid subdued and often muddy skin tones, neon and Christmas lights attempt to inject moments of liveliness into the otherwise drab palette. Delineation issues cause darker outfits and winter wear to blend into indistinguishable masses, with crush affecting background details.

Despite these shortcomings, some aspects of the transfer are commendable. The 35mm film origin retains a film-like texture, free from overt digital manipulation—no visible edge enhancement or banding issues. This choice preserves a more naturalistic visual aesthetic, albeit one marred by a lack of high-definition sharpness and vivid color depth. Consequently, while the master is free of damage, the video quality presents a mixed experience, hindered by outdated technology but salvaged slightly by a careful transfer maintaining some level of filmic integrity.

The audio presentation of "The Ice Harvest" Blu-ray features a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix that meticulously captures the film's dynamic dialogue and atmospheric nuances. Dialogue exchanges, whether loud or whispered, are consistently clear and retain the actors' distinct personalities. The audio bolsters the cinematic experience with crisp jazz instrumentation and louder soundtrack selections, although surround channels are predominantly ambient without striking activity.

Both a 5.1 and a 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio track are included. While the film's dialogue-heavy nature limits immersive effects, the 5.1 track stands out, especially during the opening ice storm, enveloping the listener in realistic environmental sounds. Secondary ambient noises enhance authenticity but remain subtle. Throughout, the audio is faultless, maintaining clarity and precision without lapses in quality.

Overall, the sound mix serves the film well, capturing essential details with sharpness and a natural depth, despite its restrained low-end reach. The included audio options allow for a varied listening experience, although the 5.1 track distinctly elevates the viewing with its surround capabilities.

The Blu-ray extras of "The Ice Harvest" offer a rich blend of insightful and entertaining content. Commentary by the late director Harold Ramis provides an in-depth look at the film's production nuances, while alternate endings present darker, thought-provoking variations of the movie’s conclusion. The outtake featuring Billy Bob Thornton adds a humorous touch, showing his versatile acting skills. Featurettes like "Cracking the Story" and "Beneath the Harvest" delve into the adaptation process from novel to screen, emphasizing Ramis’s vision and the collaborative effort of the crew. "Ice Cracking: Analysis of a Scene" is particularly engaging, sharing technical details about a pivotal scene's development under challenging conditions.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary by Director Harold Ramis: Behind-the-scenes insights into settings and shooting.
• Alternate Ending #1: Darker conclusion for Charlie's fate.
• Alternate Ending #2: Similar ending with added flashback.
• Outtake with Billy Bob Thornton: Fun scene with Thornton's character from Sling Blade.
• Cracking the Story: Discussion on adapting the novel to the screen.
• Beneath the Harvest: Production details and cast/crew interviews.
• Ice Cracking: Analysis of a Scene: In-depth look at a challenging climatic scene.
• Theatrical Trailer: Preview of the film’s release promotion.

Harold Ramis' 2005 film, "The Ice Harvest," represents a perplexing entry in his varied directorial portfolio, which oscillated between legendary hits and notable flops. Adapted from Scott Phillips' 2001 crime novel, the movie endeavored to blend Midwestern noir with black comedy, but the juxtaposition resulted in a somewhat uninspiring end product. Set over a bleak winter day in Wichita, the film follows mob lawyer Charlie Arglist (John Cusack) and his partner Vic (Billy Bob Thornton) as they scheme to escape with over $2 million stolen from a mob kingpin (Randy Quaid). However, instead of a thrilling heist narrative, the film shifts focus to Charlie's paranoia and misadventures, diluted further by unnecessary detours involving his drunken friend Pete (Oliver Platt).

Despite its promising premise, "The Ice Harvest" struggles with maintaining momentum and coherence. The dark humor intended to drive the plot often falls flat, overshadowed by an inconsistent tone that clashes with the potential thriller elements. The screenplay, penned by Richard Russo and Robert Benton, sporadically captures the grim ambiance of Wichita—depicted as a desolate landscape marked by sex businesses and bars—but fails to foster a compelling sense of escalation. Connie Nielsen’s role as strip club owner Renata adds a sultry dimension yet lacks chemistry with Cusack, undermining the femme fatale trope essential to classic noir.

Technically, "The Ice Harvest" delivers a stylish and shadowy noir aesthetic; however, the film’s direction falters by introducing characters and crises awkwardly, detracting from the building tension. Key plot points suffer from underdeveloped mysteries, particularly with mafia hitman Roy (Mike Starr), whose enigmatic presence is largely inconsequential. Ramis’s decision to incorporate a happy ending further derails the narrative, contrasting sharply with the preceding darker tones. While individual performances and select scenes exhibit promise, the film ultimately makes several missteps that prevent it from achieving its intended impact.

The Ice Harvest, directed by Harold Ramis, is an ambitious neo-noir comedic thriller that unfortunately falters under the pressure of its shifting tones and narrative inconsistencies. Despite a strong cast, highlighted by Billy Bob Thornton's compelling performance, the film struggles to balance its dark comedic elements with its dramatic noir aspirations. The result is an uneven film experience that reflects a clear editorial compromise.

Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release delivers a commendable A/V transfer that sharpens the visuals and enhances the audio quality, preserving the film's atmospheric wintery setting. This release, however, does not introduce any new supplementary materials, recycling the extras from its earlier DVD edition—a shortfall for potential new buyers. While the transfer quality is top-notch, it falls short of being a must-have for collectors or first-time viewers.

In the overall arc of Ramis's career, The Ice Harvest isn't his worst picture, just his greatest misfire. One can sense an editorial struggle to get this feature into release shape, with tonality messy, performances overly permissive at times (Platt is a cartoon here), and an ultimate summary of redemption (or comeuppance) ruined by pulled punches in the climax. While the A/V quality is solid and Thornton's performance is a highlight, renting before purchasing is advisable given the film's inherent flaws and the lack of new bonus content.