Black Ice (2013 film)
| Black Ice | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Johnny Gogan |
| Written by | Johnny Gogan Brian Leyden |
| Produced by | Johnny Gogan Trevor Curran Nicky Gogan |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Peter Martin |
| Edited by | Patrick O'Rourke |
| Music by | Glenn Garrett |
Production companies | Bandit Films Still Films |
| Distributed by | Studio North West |
Release date |
|
Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | Ireland |
| Language | English |
Black Ice is a 2013 Irish racing thriller written and directed by Johnny Gogan. The film premiered in competition at the Dublin International Film Festival, and was subsequently distributed by Studio North West.[1] The cast includes Jane McGrath, Killian Scott, Marian Quinn, Conor McDermottroe, Dermot Murphy, Roisin Scully, and Amy Molloy.[2]
The film was nominated for the 2013 Dublin Film Critics Circle Award for Best Irish Film.[3] For her performance, Jane McGrath was nominated for the Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actress.[4]
Plot
[edit]A story of youthful misadventure set against the backdrop of a lawless border terrain during the last gasps of the Irish boom - Black Ice charts the story of Alice as she is seduced into the rhythmic rumbling world of local boy racers. Alice is beckoned from her middle-class existence by the growling engine of Jimmy's slick, black, Skyline. Racing, dicing, drifting together on the winding back roads, Alice and Jimmy dream of rally cars and make great plans to escape the cloying town. Alice is swept away, beyond the danger of the boy racer scene, and into the underworld of the borderland, where Jimmy doesn't believe in playing it straight. He likes the taste of money and he likes to take short-cuts. Despite her brother Tom's warnings, Jimmy's criminal behavior only makes Alice want him more, while the greed that has taken hold of the community is about to claim its price in young lives. Two years later an estranged Alice returns home to deal with the aftermath of the high-speed boy racer collision that has taken the life of Tom and his girlfriend. In her search for Jimmy, Alice relives her own complicity in events and the descent into deceit and corruption that led to this personal and community catastrophe.[5]
Cast
[edit]- Jane McGrath as Alice Watters
- Killian Scott as Jimmy Devlin
- Marian Quinn as Kate Watters
- Conor McDermottroe as Martin Watters
- Dermot Murphy as Tom Watters
- Roisin Scully as Carole O'Reilly
- Amy Molloy as Moya Shine
- Brian Leyden as Priest
- Gina Costigan as Sister
- Jason Matthewson as Declan O'Reilly
Reception
[edit]The film received mixed reviews from critics. RTÉ's Alan Corr noted that while the film features strong performances, particularly from Jane McGrath as Alice and Killian Scott as Jimmy, it "never really shifts out of second gear." Corr highlighted the film's attempt to intertwine a forbidden romance with broader themes of economic decline and corruption but felt it lacked visual appeal, stating that "there is not much to recommend visually about Black Ice."[6]
Awards
[edit]| Year | Association | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Dublin International Film Festival | Best Irish Feature Film | Johnny Gogan | Nominated | [7] |
| 2013 | Galway Film Fleadh | Best Irish Feature Film | Johnny Gogan | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Dublin Film Critics Circle Award | Best Irish Film | Johnny Gogan | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Irish Film & Television Academy | Best Actress | Jane McGrath | Nominated |
- ^ Smith, John. "Black Ice Review: A Gritty Irish Drama." IFTN. Last modified September 18, 2013. http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4286267&tpl=archnews&force=1.
- ^ "Black Ice (2013) Cast and Crew." Rotten Tomatoes. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/black_ice_2013/cast-and-crew.
- ^ Sheena. "The Dublin Film Critics Circle Announce Their Best of 2013 Awards." Entertainment.ie. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://entertainment.ie/movies/movie-news/the-dublin-film-critics-circle-announce-their-best-of-2013-awards-241873/.
- ^ "IFTA Winners 2014." Irish Film & Television Academy. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://www.ifta.ie/awards/iftawinners2014.html.
- ^ Black Ice (2013). IMDb. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2606788/.
- ^ "Black Ice." RTÉ Entertainment. Last modified September 19, 2013. https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/movie-reviews/2013/0919/475026-black-ice/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
- ^ JDIFF 2013 Programme. Issuu. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://issuu.com/dublinfilmfest/docs/jdiff-2013-programme-v2.