CommentsXp
Best movie ever!
CrawlerChunky
In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.
Derrick Gibbons
An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
lewiscranstonemail
Looking back on 'Frozen River', you can clearly see writer-director, Courtney Hunt has planned and executed it with her own clear, well thought-out intentions. Not only to show a tale of a woman in danger, but to provide a well crafted insight into an American life that many may not be aware of. From life in a Native American reservation to the smuggling of immigrants, it also explores some unexpected themes too. However I found the visuals and atmosphere very very depressing, notably a shot showing popcorn being served for dinner in a grim caravan. Although this is intended, it doesn't make for the greatest cinematic experience. I'd compare the film to the Ken Loach film 'Kes' in its tone and everyman/woman characters, although 'Frozen River' is slightly more uplifting.
Wuchak
Melissa Leo and Misty Upham star as Ray Eddy and Lila Littlewolf, two struggling single mothers in 2008's "Frozen River." They form an unfriendly alliance to make money by smuggling illegal immigrants into the USA via the Mohawk Reservation on the border of New York and Quebec. The "frozen river" of the title refers to the frozen St. Lawrence River that they drive across to carry out their activities.This is the kind of drama I really like. Despite the weak acting of some of the Native cast members, the film's like watching real life. The story is slow and maudlin, but it captures your attention till the end. The climax is both low-key and inspiring. I was impressed with how the filmmakers covertly included potent subtexts. This isn't a Christian film by any means, but take note that the story takes place around Christmas time. Lila points out to Ray that she and half the Mohawk tribe are not converts to Christianity and so ignore Christmas and follow their Native beliefs. Later, when something mind-blowing happens, Ray tells Lila that she did something really amazing, but Lila openly admits, "It wasn't me; it was the Creator." I mentioned the questionable acting of some of the Native cast members, but I'd rather have weak acting with real Natives than great acting with people pretending to be Natives.The film runs 97 minutes and was shot in Plattsburgh, New York, Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.GRADE: B+
Sherazade
A down on her luck mother of two (played to perfection by Melissa Leo) living in upstate New York, goes in search of her deadbeat husband and meets a native Indian woman (played eloquently by Misty Upham) who has just experienced a personal tragedy in possession of her husband's car. Believing he is having an affair she confronts the mysterious woman and after a brief altercation Lila (the Indian woman) gives up the vehicle then reveals a get rich quick scheme to the destitute mother as she attempts to tow her husband's vehicle back home. Protected by the confines of the Mohawk reservation which she belongs, Lila manages to avoid the law as she carries out her dangerous 'get rich quick' missions and Ray (Leo) unwillingly accepts her own "being White & invisible" camouflage to save her family from poverty and both women embark on crazy adventures together crossing the borders of the US and Canada via an unguarded frozen river.
info-397-683284
This really is mediocre. Melissa Leo turns in a fine performance, the youth actors are terrible...not their fault, the director obviously had no clue how to work with kids. It's a tear jerker...but why do we care? All the B parts are horribly stereotyped as are Native Americans visually it looks like an undergraduate student film ...I'm guessing shot on th Red One, but not well. The illegal aliens whose lives are torn apart are treated like detritus. I'm not sure why I even gave this a 3 except that I want to support low budget film making, but you can do low budget and still have relevance...so, I have seen worse, but this is pretty bad. Watch it only because you feel the need to identify with independent film.
