'The Ice Harvest'

'The Ice Harvest'

John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton Star in Director Harold Ramis' Wickedly Funny Thriller

On DVD and VHS With Exclusive Bonus Features, Including Alternate Endings February 28, 2006 From Universal Studios Home Entertainment

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton star in "The Ice Harvest", a dark and satiric caper about a pair of Wichita schemers whose plan to steal millions from the mob backfires. Available on DVD and VHS from Universal Studios Home Entertainment on February 28, 2006, "The Ice Harvest" features a stellar ensemble as criminals and reprobates including Connie Nielsen ("Gladiator," "One Hour Photo") and Oliver Platt ("Kinsey"). From acclaimed director Harold Ramis ("Analyze This," "Groundhog Day"), "The Ice Harvest"'s razor-sharp script by Oscar(R) winner Robert Benton ("Places in the Heart," "Kramer vs. Kramer") and Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Russo ("Empire Falls") takes audiences on a wild ride brimming with larceny, lust and lethal behavior. The DVD's special features add to the caustic mayhem with alternate endings, additional footage and an exclusive look behind the scenes of the season's most darkly imaginative crime story. The DVD is priced at $29.98 SRP. Preorder close is January 24, 2006.

Charlie (John Cusack) and Vic (Billy Bob Thornton) plan to skip town with $2 million stolen from crime boss Bill Guerrard (Randy Quaid), but when the roads ice over, they spend one long booze-soaked cold winter's night in Wichita trying to stay one step ahead of the cops, Guerrard and each other.

Critics Love this Criminally Funny Caper

Critics across America lauded "The Ice Harvest"'s twisted take on film noir. Dean Richards of WB-TV calls it "Wickedly hilarious!" and the Los Angeles Times' Kevin Thomas says "The Ice Harvest" is a "classic guilty pleasure." Richard Roeper of "Ebert & Roeper" raves, "John Cusack's back in prime, dark comic form. Very funny stuff."

DVD FEATURES SCENE-STEALING EXTRAS

"The Ice Harvest" DVD is loaded with new material and specially created bonus features that keep the surprises and the laughs coming, including:

* Startling Alternate Endings -- Seen here for the first time.

* Outtake with Billy Bob Thornton

* Ice Cracking: Analysis of a Scene -- Walk through the tense faceoff
scene with the filmmakers as they break it down step by gripping step.

* Cracking the Ice -- Screenwriters Robert Benton and Richard Russo
provide an in-depth analysis of the transformation of "The Ice Harvest"
from popular novel to enthralling screenplay.

* Beneath the Harvest -- An insider's look at the making of a
subversively funny crime caper.

* Exclusive Audio Commentary -- With director Harold Ramis

Synopsis

John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton star in this hilarious and unpredictable thriller that critics are calling, "very funny stuff" (Richard Roeper, "Ebert & Roeper").

When lawyer Charlie (Cusack) and his partner Vic (Thornton) steal from a mob boss, they think they've pulled off the perfect crime. But when they race through a night filled with mayhem, lust and lethal surprises, they realize that the biggest risk they'll take will be trusting each other.

From the director of "Analyze This" and "Groundhog Day," "The Ice Harvest" cracks with outrageous laughs and slippery twists that will keep you guessing until the very end!

For more information please visit: www.theiceharvest.com.

CAST & FILMMAKERS
Director: Harold Ramis
Screenplay By: Richard Russo & Robert Benton, based on the novel by Scott
Phillips
Produced By: Albert Berger & Ron Yerxa
Executive Producers: Robert Benton, Richard Russo, Glenn Williamson
Director of Photography: Alar Kivilo, ASC, CSC
Production Designer: Patrizia van Brandenstein
Edited By: Lee Percy, ACE
Music By: David Kitay
Costume Designer: Susan Kaufmann
Cast: John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Randy Quaid, Oliver Platt, Connie
Nielsen

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DVD
Street Date: February 28, 2006
Pre-Order Close: January 24, 2006
Copyright: 2006 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Price: $29.98 SRP
Selection Number: 26296 (Widescreen); 26297 (Full Frame)
Running Time: 1 Hour 29 Minutes
Layers: Dual
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1); Full Frame (1.33:1)
Rating: R
Technical Info: English and French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround; English
SDH; French and Spanish Subtitles

VHS
Street Date: February 28, 2006
Pre-Order Close: January 24, 2006
Copyright: 2006 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Price: $29.98 SRP
Selection Number: 62994
Running Time: 1 Hour 29 Minutes
Picture: Full Frame
Rating: R
Technical Info: Hi-Fi Stereo Surround

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and Entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.

CONTACTS

Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Vivian Mayer
Senior Vice President, Publicity
(818) 777-3594

Lea Porteneuve
Vice President, Publicity
(818) 777-1391

Craig Radow
Senior Manager, Publicity
(818) 777-4572

www.theiceharvest.com

Source: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

CONTACT: Vivian Mayer, Senior Vice President, Publicity,
+1-818-777-3594, or Lea Porteneuve, Vice President, Publicity,
+1-818-777-1391, or Craig Radow, Senior Manager, Publicity, +1-818-777-4572,
all of Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Web site: http://www.universalstudios.com/

Web site: http://www.theiceharvest.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For artwork or screeners, please log on to our Web site at www.ushepublicity.com or fax your request to Universal Studios Home Entertainment Publicity at (818) 866-0226.

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