The Ice Storm: Criterion Collection
By Cyril Pearl -- Video Business, 3/3/2008
Kyla Pratt takes a break from interviews in promotion of Fox’s DVD premiere sequel Dr. Dolittle 4: Tail to the Chief.
To promote its 101 Dalmatians: Platinum Edition DVD, Disney turned Route 101 in Los Angeles into the ‘101 Dalmations Freeway,’ as 101 spotted cars drove on the highway to spcaLA’s Animal Village in Long Beach, Calif., on March 2.
The Business of Being Born producer Ricki Lake recently visited New Line’s office in Los Angeles. The documentary will be released on DVD May 6.
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CRITERION/IMAGE
Street: March 18
Prebook: now
> Ang Lee’s carefully layered character study of malaise-ridden ’70s suburbanites gets the Criterion treatment.
Based upon the novel by Rick Moody, The Ice Storm follows the dissatisfying lives of two suburban Connecticut families circa 1973. Filmmaker Ang Lee’s second English language film (following 1995’s Sense and Sensibility) features a strong ensemble cast getting involved in such activities of the era as wife-swapping, drug experimentation and wondering about Watergate, all of which acts as a prelude to a dangerous ice storm that puts the big chill on everyone’s “troubles.” More than a decade after its 1997 release, it remains one of the finest films about the Northeast in the ’70s, and the fact that this film about the U.S. was made by Taiwan-born Lee makes it all the more impressive.
Shelf Talk: The strongest selling point for The Ice Storm is undoubtedly its cast, which includes Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Joan Allen, Christina Ricci and then up-and-coming stars Elijah Wood, Tobey Maguire and Katie Holmes. A critical and home entertainment favorite, the film frequently appears on “Best Movies of the ’90s” lists and is a fine choice for the Criterion Collection—and one of the more recently produced films to get the high-end label’s special treatment.
Drama, color, R (mature themes, sexual situations, language, violence, drug use), 112 min., DVD $39.95
Extras: director/producer/screenwriter’s commentary, new featurette and interviews with cast and crew, deleted scenes, Museum of the Moving Image footage, production designs and sketches with commentary
Director: Ang Lee
First Run: L, Sept. 1997, $7.8 mil.
