The Ice Harvest: A-

Laced with irony and the blackest of humor this comedy noir is the perfect holiday movie. No, it doesn't have a sentimental message and it really doesn't even make you feel good when you're done watching it. It's strength lies in it's unassuming style and the way that it's lead characters: John Cusack, as a mob lawyer, Billy bob Thorton, as a sleaze, Connie Nielson, as the femme fatale, and Oliver Platt, as John's alcoholic ex-best friend, sort of meander through a story revolving around a stolen 2 million dollars. The script is sound without being flashy and Harold Ramis directs with a mature glee. John Cusack turns in another hilariously dry performance as the only (half) decent person among the group of rogues and thieves that occupy Wichita and Oliver Platt plays his role delicously, gaining at least half of the movie's big laughs. Top it all off with a meager running length of 88 minutes and their is really no reason not to see this slyly witted movie (except maybe for the gore and violence).