"THE ICE STORM" (1997) - (Brutally Dramatic Video Risk) I must agree with the solid review of Dominik Kleebach on IMDB, this is a film that can leave you "shivering and breathless." It is sort of "The Brady Bunch" meets "American Beauty" as director Ang Lee gives us a few days with the suburban, Connecticut, rich elite of the 1970's. Adults have adult problems and their children have adult problems too in this scary, brutal film about the failed American dream.

THE STORY - We follow two suburban Connecticut families during Thanksgiving vacation. Needless to say, the families are barely functional and seem to retain their unit out of habit and community image. Kevin Kline plays Ben Hood, an attorney having an affair. Joan Allen is his wife, Elena, who is beginning to catch on that her husband is not being faithful. Sigourney Weaver plays a vampish housewife to Jamey Sheridan (remember him as the devil in the infectious miniseries "The Stand"), an inventor of some kind named Jim Carver. The Carvers and the Hoods are neighbors and have odd, intelligent children who are experimenting with their bodies and their emotions. One of the film's central themes focuses on the cold-as-ice relationship of the parents with their children. Oh, yeah, it is physically cold also--there is a real ice storm in the film as well.

THE REVIEW - I sure hope that I'm able to talk to my children (when I actually have some) better than these people. Something early in the film reminded me of The Great Gatsby, children growing up without their parents because their parents were only interested in their own selfish desires (parties and money). Of course, it is really hard to talk to children and harder still, I'm sure, to raise children. The parents in "The Ice Storm" never seem to try. It is real.

Every single performance in the film is good especially that of Adam Hann-Byrd as Sandy Carver. He is so affected and troubled, and it shows well in his droopy almost drugged facial expressions. Watching Hann-Byrd, I was reminded why my parents never opted for Ritalin. It seems obvious that the parents in "The Ice Storm" would jump at the opportunity to artificially calm down their children merely so the parents could attend a social engagement. Please understand, some children and adults really need properly prescribed medication, however, sometimes it is overprescribed out of convenience.

Last weekend, my wife an I were pleasantly entertained by Curtis Hansen's wonderful "Wonderboys." Strangely enough, "Wonderboys" featured two actors from "The Ice Storm," Tobey Maguire and Katie Holmes. In "Wonderboys" their roles seemed to be mere extensions of those they played in "The Ice Storm." "Wonderboys" is a lighter film I strongly recommend, but "The Ice Storm" was better.

One final note, those of you who actually see or have seen "The Ice Storm" and think that children in real life are not like the ones portrayed in the film should rent "Kids," or better yet, sit down and have a real discussion with your child; it might be eye opening.

Forget where you put your car keys? No matter, I'm sure they will turn up soon enough.

Jonathan Hickman