The Ice Road

Greetings again from the darkness. Somehow, it's already time for Liam Neeson's semi-annual macho thriller. In this one, he gets to drive a big rig. Over a frozen river. He also gets to wear flannel, chew on a toothpick, and punch two guys (but no wolves) ... all while doing the right thing in order to save some trapped miners. And it's not about the money. Well, it starts out about the money, but in the end, it's not about the money!

Neeson stars as Mike, a trucker whose spotty employment record is likely as much his own doing as it is that of his brother John/"Gurtie" (Marcus Thomas), who is not just a super mechanic, but also a war veteran with some mental challenges. The VA hospital quickly diagnoses Gurtie with PTSD and prescribes multiple pills for him. Mike tosses out accusations and the pills, as the two brothers head to Winnipeg for a rescue mission.

Jonathan Hensleigh also wrote and directed the 2011 film KILL THE IRISHMAN which I enjoyed. This time he serves up some nice opening shots that give us a real feel for the isolation and frozen tundra of the setting. When the mine collapses, trapping the workers, the oxygen clock starts, and Goldenrod (Laurence Fishburne) is charged with finding 2 other available and experienced truckers who can drive over the ice road and deliver the necessary equipment within 30 hours. Mike and Gurtie are chosen for one truck, and Tantoo (Amber Midthunder, "Legion") is chosen for the other. She has extra incentive, as her brother Cody (Martin Sensmeier, WIND RIVER, 2017) is one of the trapped miners.

We do get brief segments with the miners, including Cody and Lampard (Holt McCallany, "Mindhunter") who are focused on saving as many men as possible. Of course, all of this is the fault of yet another big, bad corporation led by a profit-oriented GM (Matt McCoy, known by "Seinfeld" fans as Lloyd Braun). Along for the ride with the truckers is Varnay (Benjamin Walker, ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER, 2016), introduced as an insurance actuarial. And yes, there's more to his story.

If you've ever seen "Ice Road Truckers" on the History Channel, you have some idea what's about to occur. Thrills, chills, and unforeseen obstacles come at a rapid-fire pace ... as if driving 75,000 pounds on 30 inches of slowly melting ice-covered rivers wasn't enough. This is a wild movie, so expect even more. The bobbleheads on the dash aren't just good luck charms, and everyone isn't who they seem. Big companies who cut corners and those who don't treat vets properly are the targets here, but it's to be enjoyed as a frigid and perilous rescue mission - and one more chance for Liam Neeson to prove he's a man's man.

Available on Netflix beginning June 25, 2021.

I went into this screening with low expectations, because I had been told it was not a particularly good film. And, yes, some parts are just a bit hoaky, some characters are stereotypes, and there are some inconsequential goofs (dry clothing in the truck cab, after full immersion in the lake).

BUT, all that aside, the movie kept us on the edge of our seats for much of the time. It was an enjoyable evening / after-dinner movie! And, it is frankly much better than quite a few rather lame films that have come out, with thunderous publicity, in the last 18 months.

The plot involves a rescue mission, directed at saving workers in a collaposed mine. There are quite a few surprises (not outlined here, lest the comments become spoilers), so the plot is not particularly predictable. The all-too-common 'hyper-angst' that is frquently used in such movies is kept reasonably in check, so the action, and plot twists are at the forefront. Yes, there are several 'personal' storylines going on that form a backbone of the plot. But, they actually contribute to the suspense, rather than detract from it.

I like Liam Neeson movies. His rugged 'Mike" character is back at it again. As a Netflix production "The Ice Road" suffers from the same illnesses that plagues many of their studios, mostly due to tight budget limit, such as cheap CGI, no connection to reality at parts, quick production that leaves erroneous shots (truck models that switch etc) and not being able to keep highly-paid actors for the length of the film.

HOWEVER, if you ignore all that and grab some popcorn and a drink, this movie is action packed and is a good thriller filled with relatable, albeit clichéd, characters, such as his mentally struggling brother and the female trucker. I really enjoyed these characters and the overall acting level is excellent from all actors.

As an action movie I think it gives F9 a run for its money and probably overall is better, if you get upset by impossible movie action, this movie is probably not for you, but for pure action flick I give it an exact score of 57 / 100.

I don't agree with the negative reviews rating it the lowest score possible. For that there are countless worse movies than The Ice Road. I don't know what those people expect from a movie with Liam Neeson? Everybody knows exactly how a movie with him will end. Liam Neeson always wins so that's case closed. I thought the story was entertaining, with some good moments of suspense. Did it look realistic? No, certainly not. But it's a movie with Liam Neeson so what do you expect? I don't care about futile things like that, I just want entertainment, and that's exactly what I got.

Yes it's not "My Dinner with Andre" or "Mindwalk", but is a Liam Neeson, Saturday afternoon beer drinking action movie. It's pure escapism from S-show that is America 2021.