“The Ice Road” (*** out of four) was a relatively solid action thriller about a big-rig ice-road driver (Liam Neeson) who must lead a death-defying mission over a frozen ocean in Northern Canada to save trapped miners (Laurence Fishburne, Martin Sensmeier, and others ) when a remote diamond mine collapses and various big-business and political figures (Matt McCoy and Matt Salinger) struggle to contain and defuse the situation. Neeson’s rock-solid presence makes all the difference here and elevates what might have been a B-movie throwaway into being watchable and entertaining although it starts to grow a little repetitive after a while. Filmed actually in Manitoba with striking and vivid cinematography by Tom Stern.