MovieChat Forums > The Ice Storm (1997) Discussion > Most awkward moment in the key party.

Most awkward moment in the key party.

posted 15 years ago by nonon99_99
16 replies | jump to latest

The key party itself is full of drama and twist, there are all kinds of embarrassment,
hardly anyone is comfortable. But the most awkward moment must be when Maria Conrad
picks the key. She brings her son to the key party, and her son, sitting at the opposite
side, in theory is among whom she might pick. Even just a possibility is horrible enough,
but she comes first and bravely puts her hand into the pot with her eyes closing, not worrying
any avoidance! Look at how complex her son Neil Conrad's facial expression is at that moment
and what a relief when she picks someone esle. The son eventually goes away with Sigourney
Weaver's character Janey Carver, as he perhaps wishes.

Somehow I think the relationship between Maria and Neil is a tricky one. It does not look
like incestuous but is definitely not usual, the reason being Neil, although in relief, stares
at the guy Maria picks with a sort of hostility. The movie does not give more into them. This
is merely one small side of the facets anyway.

[–] caroms2051 15 years ago

Thought the most awkward moment was when "Reverend Edwards" hit on Joan Allen. He tells her that 'even a Shepherd sometimes needs the comfort of the his flock.' Her reply to him sent him packing right out of that "Key Party" (hard to believe they ever had those....this movie was set in 1973)

The fun of the 'key party' is due to Allison Janney's smiling, mischievous character and her garish makeup and clothes. You can almost hear her thinking, "I can't believe they are actually paying me to do this scene. I would have done it for free...just for the laughs." It was a funny part of the movie, and Joan Allen's severe disapproval and disgust of the whole thing just made it all the funnier.

Director Ang Lee did such a great job of catching the right vibes for a "Nixon-era" movie. And Sigourney Weaver was sublime.

This was a great movie, and I am glad I had a chance to watch it (for the second time this month) early on a "Thankgiving Day."

[–] Screen_Queen 10 years ago

The fun of the 'key party' is due to Allison Janney's smiling, mischievous character and her garish makeup and clothes. You can almost hear her thinking, "I can't believe they are actually paying me to do this scene. I would have done it for free...just for the laughs."

Hahahaha! I'll bet she thinks that with all her movies. She's bloody hilarious.

You heart me? What is that? Is that like I love you for pussies?

[–] ShawnaC123 14 years ago

Yeah I was thinking the most awkward moment was when the fat chick was picking....but she did have a really pretty face.

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[–] KatrinaW 13 years ago

Yes, I felt badly for her as well. And it took the guy she picked (Ben's co-worker George, I think?) long enough to admit the keys were his!

[–] excalibur212 11 years ago

Um, it's not literally her son, dude. The guy was just making a joke when they entered. She's a cradle robber, dating some inappropriately younger teenage guy.

[–] DryToast 11 years ago

Donna Mitchell as Maria Conrad
Glenn Fitzgerald as Neil Conrad

Mother and son.

"You must sing him your prettiest songs, then perhaps he will want to marry you."

[–] KatrinaW 10 years ago

Exactly. One of the guys talking to Ben even says "Oh, look, Maria Conrad brought her son. I wish some of the guys had brought their daughters". Ugh, lech!

[–] ed-pilling 11 years ago

The woman who picked her husbands key. Everyone said pick again and both of them said no. It was very clear they were very uncomfortable doing this.

[–] Screen_Queen 10 years ago

I didn't get that part. If they were so uncomfortable, then why did they stick around? It just didn't make much sense to me.

You heart me? What is that? Is that like I love you for pussies?

[–] KatrinaW 10 years ago

Peer pressure? Or, they thought it might be a good idea, then chickened out at the last minute.

[–] al91206-1 11 years ago

I thought the most awkward moment (though all of the examples here ARE in fact awkward) - was when the one guy told Kevin Kline's character that he wished some of their friends had brought their daughters ...

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] salem_street 10 years ago

I really love your observation OP and I came to this board today after noticing some other slight hints at uninitiated incest, not at the key party (though I think theeee most awkward part was when Ben falls over himself after Janey picks, or when Elena has to WORK to get Jim Carver to hang out with her, much less to have subpar sex with her.)

Anyways, at Libbetz Casey's house, when she refers to "brotherly" affection toward Paul, he mentioned he'd received such comments in the past...and then playfully asked her to take a "bro-sis" bath. I'm not saying Paul and Wendy were doing it or ever even would, but there seemed to be a subtle nudge towards Paul's romantic compass being set by hidden feelings for his sister.

[–] TheXmanCometh 10 years ago

I need to respectfully disagree salem_street. I heard the 'brother' line at least once growing up when a girl I liked didn't feel the same way. Also, it wasn't uncommon for young brothers and sisters to be tossed in a bathtub at the same time back in the 60's when Paul and Wendy would have grown up.

It was a nice continuation joke for Paul to take the 'like a brother' line and counter with "great, let's take a bath together" punch.

[–] maxtshea 10 years ago

I think there were fewer "key parties" than legend would tell, but there was a heck of a lot of extramarital hanky-panky in the seventies, that's for sure!