The Ice Storm (novel): Difference between revisions
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{{about|the novel||Ice storm (disambiguation)}} |
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{{Infobox_Film |
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{{Infobox book| <!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels]] or [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Books]] --> |
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|name = The Ice Storm |
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| name = The Ice Storm |
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| title_orig = |
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|caption = ''The Ice Storm'' film poster |
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| translator = |
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|director = [[Ang Lee]] |
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| image = File:Icestormnovel.jpg |
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|producer = Ted Hope<br>[[Ang Lee]]<br>[[James Schamus]] |
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| caption = First edition cover |
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|writer = [[Rick Moody]] ([[novel]])<br>[[James Schamus]] |
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| imagesize = 250px |
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|starring = [[Kevin Kline]]<br>[[Joan Allen]]<br>[[Tobey Maguire]]<br>[[Christina Ricci]]<br>[[Elijah Wood]]<br>[[Sigourney Weaver]] |
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| author = [[Rick Moody]] |
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|distributor= [[Fox Searchlight Pictures]] |
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| illustrator = |
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|released= [[September 27]], [[1997]] |
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| cover_artist = |
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|runtime = 112 min. |
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| country = [[United States]] |
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|language = [[English language|English]] |
| language = [[English language|English]] |
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|imdb_id = 0119349 |
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| series = |
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| genre = [[Family]], [[Drama]], [[Tragicomedy]] |
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| publisher = [[Little, Brown and Company|Little Brown & Co]] |
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|budget = $18,000,000 (est.) |
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| release_date = 1994 |
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| english_release_date = |
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| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover]] and [[Paperback]]) |
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| pages = 279 pp |
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| isbn = 0-316-57921-1 |
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| dewey= 813/.54 20 |
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| congress= PS3563.O5537 I24 1994 |
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| oclc= 28422902 |
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| preceded_by = |
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| followed_by = |
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| ⚫ | |||
'''''The Ice Storm''''' is a [[1994 in literature|1994]] [[United States|American]] [[novel]] by [[Rick Moody]]. The novel was widely acclaimed by readers and critics alike, described as a funny, acerbic, and moving hymn to a dazed and confused era of American life.<ref name="reading group">[http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides3/ice_storm1.asp ''The Ice Storm'' at Reading Guides]; accessed April 3, 2007.</ref> |
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'''''The Ice Storm''''' is a [[novel]] by [[Rick Moody]] published in [[1994]] and subsequently adapted as a [[drama]]tic [[film|motion picture]] released in [[1997]]. |
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In 1997, the novel was adapted into an acclaimed [[The Ice Storm (film)|feature film]] directed by [[Ang Lee]], featuring a cast including [[Joan Allen]], [[Kevin Kline]], [[Sigourney Weaver]], [[Christina Ricci]], [[Elijah Wood]], [[Tobey Maguire]] and [[Katie Holmes]] in her screen debut. |
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==Plot summary== |
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The film version of ''The Ice Storm'' was directed by [[Ang Lee]], and was written by Rick Moody (novel) and [[James Schamus]]. Though it opened in the [[United States]] on [[September 27]], [[1997]] to widespread critical acclaim, its release was limited and it grossed just [[United States dollar|$]]7.8 million on a budget of $18 million, making it a box office disappointment. |
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The novel takes place over [[Thanksgiving]] weekend 1973, during a dangerous [[ice storm]] and centers on two neighboring families, the Hoods and the Williamses, and the difficulties they have dealing with the tumultuous political and social climate of the day, in affluent suburban Connecticut, during the height of the [[sexual revolution]]. The novel is narrated from four different perspectives, each of them a member of the two families, who are promoting their own opinion and views of the several complications that arise throughout the novel, including their encounters and daily life. The Hood family is overridden with lies: Ben is currently in an affair with his married neighbor Janey, his wife Elena is alienated, her daughter ventures on her own sexual liaisons with both females and males of her age, including her neighbors Mikey and Sandy. |
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| ⚫ | The Hoods are Ben, Elena, Paul and Wendy and the Williamses are Jim, Janey, Mikey, and Sandy. The story focuses on the 24 hours when a major [[ice storm]] strikes the town of [[New Canaan, Connecticut|New Canaan]], [[Connecticut]], just as both families are melting down from the parents' [[alcoholism]], [[escapism]] and [[adultery]], and their children's [[Recreational drug use|drug use]] and [[human sexual behavior|sexual]] experimentation. |
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The film has however had a lasting affect on pop culture with its "key party" scene becoming particularly infamous, being parodied in a fairly prominent UK car advert in recent years. |
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== |
==Characters== |
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* |
*'''Ben Hood''' |
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* |
*'''Elena Hood''' |
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*'''Paul Hood''' |
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* [[Henry Czerny]] (George Clair) |
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*'''Wendy Hood''' |
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* [[Adam Hann-Byrd]] (Sandy Carver) |
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*'''Janey Williams''' |
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* [[David Krumholtz]] (Francis Davenport) |
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*'''Jim Williams''' |
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* [[Tobey Maguire]] (Paul Hood) |
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*'''Mikey Williams''' |
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* [[Christina Ricci]] (Wendy Hood) |
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*'''Sandy Williams''' |
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* [[Jamey Sheridan]] (Jim Carver) |
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* [[Elijah Wood]] (Mikey Carver) |
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* [[Sigourney Weaver]] (Janey Carver) |
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* [[Katie Holmes]] (Libbets Casey) |
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==Themes and analysis== |
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==External link== |
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The novel explores the loss of innocence and moral compass in middle-upper class Americans. Its themes find their reflection in the setting: the 1970s at the time of the [[Watergate scandal]] in the wake of the [[sexual revolution]]. Themes include secrets, permissiveness, vulnerability, betrayal, and absence. Youthful characters engage in sexual experimentation as their parents pursue affairs and otherwise absent themselves from their lives. The rapidly changing sexual mores of the period are reflected in the lives of both families, whose members experiment with traditionally [[taboo]] sexual acts such as [[incest]] and [[adultery]].<ref name="reading group"/> |
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*{{imdb title|id=0119349|title=The Ice Storm}} |
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{{Ang Lee Films}} |
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==Critical reception== |
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''The Ice Storm'' was largely commended for its audacity and the many daring subjects explored in the novel.{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}} Critic Adam Begley of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' called the novel: "A bitter and loving and damning tribute to the American family.... This is a good book, packed with keen observation and sympathy for human failure"{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}} while ''[[The Guardian]]'' called it "one of the wittiest books about family life ever written."{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}} Amanda Heller of ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' stated "Moody brings this profusion of metaphor to order with a fierce, subversive intelligence. His characters, drawn with a manic acuity that isn't fully accounted for until the end, stay with us long after we've finished reading." {{Citation needed|date=June 2007}} |
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[[Category:American films|Ice Storm, The]] |
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The novel was a moderate success commercially; however its sales were boosted in 1997 with the release of the film adaptation.{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}} |
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[[Category:1997 films|Ice Storm, The]] |
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[[Category:Drama films|Ice Storm, The]] |
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==Film adaptation== |
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[[Category:Films based on fiction books|Ice Storm, The]] |
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The film adaptation ''[[The Ice Storm (film)|The Ice Storm]]'' featured a cast including [[Sigourney Weaver]], [[Kevin Kline]], [[Joan Allen]], [[Christina Ricci]], [[Tobey Maguire]] and [[Elijah Wood]]. The film was a ''succès d'estime'' as an [[Art film|art house]] film and critically acclaimed despite a poor box office, however it gained a modest reception on subsequent [[home video]] releases. {{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} While remaining more or less faithful to the book, some details were changed. Most notably, Weaver and [[Jamey Sheridan]]'s characters were named Janey and Jim Carver, while in Moody's book, their surname was Williams. |
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[[Category:Films directed by Ang Lee|Ice Storm, The]] |
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[[Category:Fox Searchlight films|Ice Storm, The]] |
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==Influences== |
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The author [[Junot Diaz]] claims to have received the idea for the deep structure for ''[[The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao]]'' from this book.<ref name="xxx">[http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/dec/30/junot-diaz-inspiration-how-to-lose-her ''Junot Díaz: my inspiration for writing This Is How You Lose Her'' at The Guardian]; accessed Dec 30, 2012.</ref> |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ice Storm, The}} |
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[[Category:20th-century American novels]] |
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[[Category:New Canaan, Connecticut]] |
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[[Category:Novels set in Connecticut]] |
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[[Category:1973 in fiction]] |
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[[Category:Thanksgiving fiction]] |
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[[de:Der Eissturm]] |
[[de:Der Eissturm]] |
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[[es:La tormenta de hielo]] |
[[es:La tormenta de hielo]] |
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[[fr:Ice Storm]] |
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[[pl:Burza lodowa]] |
[[pl:Burza lodowa]] |
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Revision as of 09:21, 11 August 2015
 First edition cover | |
| Author | Rick Moody |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Family, Drama, Tragicomedy |
| Publisher | Little Brown & Co |
Publication date | 1994 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover and Paperback) |
| Pages | 279 pp |
| ISBN | 0-316-57921-1 |
| OCLC | 28422902 |
| 813/.54 20 | |
| LC Class | PS3563.O5537 I24 1994 |
The Ice Storm is a 1994 American novel by Rick Moody. The novel was widely acclaimed by readers and critics alike, described as a funny, acerbic, and moving hymn to a dazed and confused era of American life.[1]
In 1997, the novel was adapted into an acclaimed feature film directed by Ang Lee, featuring a cast including Joan Allen, Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Christina Ricci, Elijah Wood, Tobey Maguire and Katie Holmes in her screen debut.
Plot summary
The novel takes place over Thanksgiving weekend 1973, during a dangerous ice storm and centers on two neighboring families, the Hoods and the Williamses, and the difficulties they have dealing with the tumultuous political and social climate of the day, in affluent suburban Connecticut, during the height of the sexual revolution. The novel is narrated from four different perspectives, each of them a member of the two families, who are promoting their own opinion and views of the several complications that arise throughout the novel, including their encounters and daily life. The Hood family is overridden with lies: Ben is currently in an affair with his married neighbor Janey, his wife Elena is alienated, her daughter ventures on her own sexual liaisons with both females and males of her age, including her neighbors Mikey and Sandy.
The Hoods are Ben, Elena, Paul and Wendy and the Williamses are Jim, Janey, Mikey, and Sandy. The story focuses on the 24 hours when a major ice storm strikes the town of New Canaan, Connecticut, just as both families are melting down from the parents' alcoholism, escapism and adultery, and their children's drug use and sexual experimentation.
Characters
- Ben Hood
- Elena Hood
- Paul Hood
- Wendy Hood
- Janey Williams
- Jim Williams
- Mikey Williams
- Sandy Williams
Themes and analysis
The novel explores the loss of innocence and moral compass in middle-upper class Americans. Its themes find their reflection in the setting: the 1970s at the time of the Watergate scandal in the wake of the sexual revolution. Themes include secrets, permissiveness, vulnerability, betrayal, and absence. Youthful characters engage in sexual experimentation as their parents pursue affairs and otherwise absent themselves from their lives. The rapidly changing sexual mores of the period are reflected in the lives of both families, whose members experiment with traditionally taboo sexual acts such as incest and adultery.[1]
Critical reception
The Ice Storm was largely commended for its audacity and the many daring subjects explored in the novel.[citation needed] Critic Adam Begley of the Chicago Tribune called the novel: "A bitter and loving and damning tribute to the American family.... This is a good book, packed with keen observation and sympathy for human failure"[citation needed] while The Guardian called it "one of the wittiest books about family life ever written."[citation needed] Amanda Heller of The Boston Globe stated "Moody brings this profusion of metaphor to order with a fierce, subversive intelligence. His characters, drawn with a manic acuity that isn't fully accounted for until the end, stay with us long after we've finished reading." [citation needed]
The novel was a moderate success commercially; however its sales were boosted in 1997 with the release of the film adaptation.[citation needed]
Film adaptation
The film adaptation The Ice Storm featured a cast including Sigourney Weaver, Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Christina Ricci, Tobey Maguire and Elijah Wood. The film was a succès d'estime as an art house film and critically acclaimed despite a poor box office, however it gained a modest reception on subsequent home video releases. [citation needed] While remaining more or less faithful to the book, some details were changed. Most notably, Weaver and Jamey Sheridan's characters were named Janey and Jim Carver, while in Moody's book, their surname was Williams.
Influences
The author Junot Diaz claims to have received the idea for the deep structure for The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao from this book.[2]
References
- ^ a b The Ice Storm at Reading Guides; accessed April 3, 2007.
- ^ Junot Díaz: my inspiration for writing This Is How You Lose Her at The Guardian; accessed Dec 30, 2012.