User reviews

Diane Keaton plays a widowed mother of two young boys (one of whom has serious asthma) working odd jobs but falling behind on the bills; after running into an old friend who seems to have lots of money on hand, Keaton goes on her first drug-run. Dealing Crystal Meth seems like a good solution for awhile, until the local drug lord has Keaton become a partaker to prove her worth. Serious subject matter is pitched too high, with jittery Keaton flaky and flighty, but without her charming edge (she's a walking nervous breakdown). The personalities of her two kids are unconvincing (as is their general dialogue and relationship with their mom), and the supporting characters as well never take shape. TV-movie has such a fuzzy narrative that I wasn't even sure which state it was supposed to take place in (I believe North Carolina, though it was filmed in Canada), and Keaton begins the movie as a cleaning woman but never returns to that job again. The tone of the film shifts jarringly in the second-half from character study to melodrama, a change which doesn't suit anyone here particularly well.

It was very well done, all around. Keaton gives a stirring performance. And yes, a risky performance that ultimately pays off. It was very well directed. I would highly recommend this film to anyone interested in the serious subject of drug addiction. There's alot of lessons here to be had. As well as a lot of truth.

Keaton is absolutely not believable. Her over the top acting style doesn't not work in a drama like this. It feels like she is mocking. She looks more like she just left a book reading for wives of professors than a world weary, poor mom so broke she's forced to turn to drug dealing. And frankly she is just to old for this role, at time of filming she was 56, an old looking 56.

There's just nothing that feels authentic, from the characters,the vocabulary, to the wardrobe. This movie feels like what rich Hollywood people think poor people look and act like. It's just one cliché after another. Laughable.

Since this movie was based on a true story of a woman who had two children and was not very well-off, it was just scary as to how real it really was! The acting is what gave the movie that push to greatness.

Diane Keaton portrayed the main character, Patsy McCartle who had two sons whom she adored. Her performance is what made the real life story come to life on a television screen. It was very hard to watch some of the scenes since they were so real as to what happens when one becomes addicted to drugs.

Just watching this very loving mother go from sweet to not caring at all was hard, but so true. I have known people who have gone through withdrawl and it was very much like what happened in this movie, from what I remember.

I also thought that it was very risky for the director to want to make a movie out of what happened to this woman. Yet it was done so well. I applaud the director for making this movie.

I highly recommend this to anyone who has known someone who has ever been addicted to drugs or to just learn what can happen to you if you do become addicted to them.

I got to see the movie " On Thin Ice" on the television in India.. I must say the movie was really well done, and really sent a chill down my spine.. the basic story makes me ponder what makes certain addicts decide to move on where as others still remain addicted...

however, I felt that Diane Keaton was at her best... the scene where she has cravings, and begins rummaging her home for cocaine... was the best... the two boys are good, and Lynda Boyd also showed what a good actress she is....The script is well done as is the cinematography and direction.. and casting

A must must watch movie..... for everyone

On Thin Ice (2003)

1/2 (out of 4)

Made for TV flick about the true story of Patsy McCartle (Diane Keaton), a single mother who can't pay her bills so she starts selling Meth for a ruthless drug dealer (Michael Rooker). This is without question one of the worst films I've ever seen that deals with drugs, revenge or redemption. The only reason I watched this film was because I'm a big fan of Keaton and Rooker but neither are given much to do. Keaton puts out an effort but she's at least twenty years too old for this role. The screenplay just puts her in one stupid situation after another and each of these situations are so over-dramatic that I often found myself either laughing or wishing she would have an overdose. If it weren't for the talent of the two stars then I'd call this a worst film than Reefer Madness. In fact, the final ten minutes here are worst than anything in that film.

I don't understand how true stories get such low ratings! Makes me wonder what's so fascinating about the people who gave it a low rating! If their lives were made into a true story, what would it rate??? What do these people expect?? I'd love to see them do something so brave!!! I didn't have a problem with the acting or the storyline, it was believable and convincing. Watch this with your kids, it would be convincing enough to sway them away from the drug scene. I know exactly how she feels about getting justice for your family. There's a couple of people I know, that need her kind of justice for their life, but they're never gonna get it, until the next one!

Diane Keaton has played a few "heavy" parts in her many years on the big screen but she's mostly known for the "light and fluffy" stuff with Woody Allen, such as Annie Hall. She deserves an Oscar for best actress in a drama for this effort and it doesn't really matter what the competition was the year it was first shown. Try and find a scene in which she doesn't appear. And it was all heavy drama, exhausting in its pace and retakes, action, all at full speed. The make-up made her as young as possible and she fit the 30s age category even in close-ups, but she was playing half her age and at a very fast pace. The movie, overall was fairly well done, staged and shot well with a strong supporting cast but Keaton carried the load.