The Convincer

Tortelli in a white Bolognese sauce.

The Convincer, 2011, directed by Jill Sprecher, starring Alan Arkin, Greg Kinnear, Billy Crudup and Bob Balaban. "The Convincer" received a commercial release as "Thin Ice." The re-editing and re-titling of the film by distributor ATO Pictures and production company Werc Werk Works was controversial, to say the least. Jill Sprecher said she was "heartbroken and devastated." In a note to Roger Ebert, Jill Sprecher said she doesn't even claim “Thin Ice” as her own: "Nearly 20 minutes were cut; the structure rearranged; out-takes used; voiceover and characters dropped ...  Although our names contractually remain on the film, my sister and I do not consider 'Thin Ice' to be our work." The 2012 Blu-ray release of "Thin Ice" included Jill Sprecher's original cut of "The Convincer" in its entirety. I bought that Blu-ray on eBay and I finally had the opportunity to watch the film Jill Sprecher and Karen Sprecher envisioned.

[Mickey Prohaska (Greg Kinnear) voiceover] Every era has its master craftsmen. In the age of bullshit, it’s the guy that can convince people, get them to believe ...