Icebox (2018) User Reviews

Honestly told

[fmwongmd · 7/10 · 10 December 2018]

This has the feel of an honestly told story. I don't know if it's true but the emotions are genuine. A story well told, well acted, and well directed.

Ignore the rating

[art96321 · 7/10 · 25 January 2021]

Since this movie has to do about illegal immigration, it's a controversial topic to watch. People are review bombing this based on their political beliefs. If you can put your political belief to the side and watch this movie, its a gritty tale of what it takes to enter the United States illegally. It has its elements of "hollywooding" scenes for entertainment purposes but its still a good drama and showcase the journey a young boy had to endure.

Great...but not good enough

[daniarreyesdr · 5/10 · 3 April 2020]

As a first generation child, the stories of my very own parents crossing resemble the same of which the movie portrays. When my parents saw the bikes they road across the desert, a scoff was shared. "This never happens, the terrain is too tough. No coyote would seriously take this many bikes." Walking is the only way to get across. Yes, gang members and coyotes themselves, take women, rape and beat them. This is true. Highlighting the dangers, high-five. Actors: If you are going to try and get an authentic feel. Get actors who speak spanish. Nothing about their dialect, showed a native, fresh from across the border. What peeved me off the most. Is the director and writer. IS A WHITE MAN. How is a white man, going to portray this very real raw story? Now, I thank this white man for getting our stories out. Just do it better. Watch this movie, take it in. Just remember the struggle is 300 times more then in this movie.

Unabashed audacity

[kurtisjvandermolen · 1/10 · 15 March 2023]

This is a political movie replete with propaganda. The critic might say that there are truths presented in this fictional story, but the propaganda is overwrought, down to the constantly somber music. The viewer is to be manipulated into feelings of guilt or false bravado. This movie is part of a larger chess game strategy to garner a political way of thinking. This viewer is not taking the bait and regrets the insult to my intellect in the form of an unbalanced and subjective political diatribe. Lest the reader of this critique find itself convinced of malicious intent, walk down a few streets in your town and contemplate what you shall do for your local plight, in the event it has not yet reached you. But do not seek to sneak into my mind through masterful manipulation a problem that has been unresolved since the beginning.

WHAT is up with the rating?!

[lukas-ingel · 10/10 · 11 February 2019]

I do not understand how this masterpiece can be so overlooked. I was terrified going into it as if it would turn cheesefest or whatever at any moment - hence the 5.7 stars. The rating in here is completely insane. All I really have to say: Go watch this gem for yourself. You'll see. I mean, unless you're Donald Trump? Or Hitler? Or a close-minded supporter? I, honestly, have no idea whom else would dislike it, and I *rarely* say that. As someone who loves studying characters and story structure, this was incredibly pleasing. It's complex, fast-paced, gritty and honest but with a great amount of heart. The fact that this is the reality for some people ... it's mad. I'm speechless, and ashamed that I haven't thought more about what the whole immigrant situation was like, even though I knew it was bad. I guess it comes to show once again that movies do serve for more than entertainment - and with its authenticity and high quality-making, Icebox qualifies as one of those movies everybody could gain from.

• I guess there are some sort of minor flaw somewhere that I don't really care at all about?

+ Everything character ++ Everything structure +++ That court room-climax scene!

(do not recommend to: Trump, Hitler's ghost, Trump supporters and neo nazis, in all seriousness, do not recommend to people who expect light hearted material; read the synopsis though, and I'll laugh if you think you're in for that)

WOW!

[blrlicious · 10/10 · 10 December 2018]

I was left in tears! The show was very powerful. I can relate to the pain and hardship that little Oscar is dealing with. I have witnessed it first hand. Very powerful performances! A must watch!

Compelling, yet disheartening

[pmpmn9 · 8/10 · 9 December 2018]

I found myself frustrated at every setback Oscar faced, yet still hopeful that somehow, someone would come through for him. It seemed that at every step things were stacked against him. It was a real emotional roller coaster. At the hearing, I started to see the pitfall he was being lured into and I began to holler the the TV, telling him to answer, "no" repeatedly, but it was too late. Oscar was honest, but the system wasn't. This is a system that treats victimized children, who cannot protect themselves against criminals, as though they are adults who have choices and autonomy that they don't have and denies them rights (eg. the right to a lawyer to represent them in a trial and then assumes they have waived that right voluntarily, when it was never offered to them in the first place) that would help them to succeed.

Anthony Gonzalez plays the role of Oscar very well, IMO. He really got me on Oscar's side and wanting him to find an adult ally who would stand in his corner and go to bat for him. At the end, I was so sad for him. It seemed to foreshadow the kind of future he might have, becoming like his uncle, not trusting people, always being wary and afraid of losing everything. America always seems to be the only place to go and yet, when people get there, it's just another place to keep running and hiding in fear rather than a place of comfort and peace.

Great channel surfing find!

[momtobrokegirls · 10/10 · 15 December 2018]

I saw the info about this movie while surfing through channels. It was already on and I had no intentions on watching a movie already in progress. Needless to say I didn't find another movie to watch, didn't even look for one until it went off. If it isn't a true story it could be. The acting, the storyline just everything about this movie feels authentic.

Powerful film

[fitnessmedic · 10/10 · 18 May 2019]

Most people will never experience what life is like for an immigrant. This movie follows the story of a child in the current administration. It will touch your soul and give you a glimpse into the world that has been created for many seeking refugee and peace.

A Topical Masterpiece

[emailtombuchanan · 10/10 · 9 December 2018]

Icebox is a compelling topical masterpiece that tells the story of a young boy in Honduras who is attacked by a vicious street gang and flees to the United States, where he is captured by immigration authorities and held in a cage-camp. It's an amazing drama about life inside the chaotic immigration system, and the subjective destruction of young lives. The story is well told in Spanish with English subtitles, and is a must see for every American in whose name children are held in cages.

A Timely and Human Case Study

[ybutler220 · 9/10 · 19 December 2018]

Outside of the sensationalist headlines surrounding the issue of immigration in America, the film manages to not only take a nuanced look at the complexity and humanity of the search for a better life. Yes, this is a sensitive subject, but the film works very hard to give audiences a chance to see past the political talking points and address more intimate issues of survival, friendship, and family.

Beautiful film about the motives for immigration

[onerichrex · 9/10 · 4 January 2021]

Immigration to the United States from across its southern border is a widely misunderstood topic because most people involved in it have polar stances and / or limited voices. Icebox is a beautiful film that brings to life the reality of so many thousands of people who have been voiceless for so long. This is the beginning of a Latino rights and immigrants rights movement, that most surely is being born and recognized as the seeds are planted today. The topic of family, the motive of love- these are the reasons why people- adults, children, men, women- immigrate. Not because they want to, but many times because they have to. In this film we see how the system is not designed to help-rather to exclude, to inconvenience, to scare and frighten. Every time I watch this film, it inspires me and brings tears to my eyes.

Powerful and cool movie

[medanfreepress · 8/10 · 23 June 2020]

This movie, in my opinion, is small-budget, but powerful and has successfully spread awareness about gang violence and illegal immigration.

This is a kid any illegal immigrants can relate to. Life below America is hard. Although I still cannot relate to them (since I am not them), I can understand the pain and emotional agony they're feeling. And this movie helps me to be enlightened.

The story arc is not too much, but clean. At first, we see that this is just a kid from Honduras, sent to illegally but forcefully immigrate to America. A poor kid wanting change. Wanting a new life.

But then we go to a part where we start to question our empathy towards him. That's when the political issue starts. That's where specific audience who supports the border might be relieved, and where audience who is a victim of gang violence can relate and will get triggered.

This is a movie free from dramatization, yet still non-Hollywood-ly dramatic and triggering. And that's a good movie.