| Thin Ice (formerly The Convincer) | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jill Sprecher |
| Written by | Jill Sprecher Karen Sprecher |
| Music by | Alex Wurman |
| Cinematography | Dick Pope |
| Editing by | Stephen Mirrione |
| Distributed by | Werc Werk Works ATO Pictures |
| Release date(s) | January 25, 2011 (Sundance) |
| Running time | 114 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Thin Ice (formerly The Convincer) is a 2011 crime film.[1]
Contents |
Con-man insurance salesman Mickey, dangerously at the end of his rope after his wife throws him out of the house, learns that an elderly client named Gorvy has an extremely valuable violin in his possession and is not aware of its worth ($25,000). Desperate for money, Mickey builds a friendship with Gorvy based on the possibility of stealing the violin for money. Complications arise when Mickey hires a small time ex-con named Randy to steal the instrument, and realizes he has bitten off more than he can chew.
Filming began in February and ended in March 2010, and though set in Wisconsin was shot during winter in Minnesota, particularly Bloomington and Minnetonka. The film was released in January 2011 at the Sundance Film Festival. The film was purchased by ATO Pictures and was released October 21, 2011. The film premiered locally in Minneapolis at the Walker Art Center on October 12, 2011.
Thin Ice received generally positive reviews from critics. Kyle Smith of the New York Post said in his review; "Kinnear is ideal for this role" and ultimately "The Convincer turns out to be an ambitiously structured and clever scam movie".[2] Rob Nelson of Variety said; "there are pitch-perfect comic notes from the whole ensemble (...) Stephen Mirrione's editing hits all the right beats, and Pope's brilliantly composed widescreen images of the Wisconsin tundra are as bright as any noir's could be".[3]