Frozen River (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Frozen River', written/directed by Courtney Hunt, tells the story of Ray Eddy (Melissa Leo), an upstate NY trailer mom who's lured into the unfamiliar world of illegal immigration smuggling. This is an excellent little indie drama. And Melissa Leo's raw, yet heart rendering performance is fantastic.
Picture it: the barren, icy landscapes of upstate New York in December. Appealing setting, huh? Ray Eddy is a poor woman. She works part-time at a convenient store. Her eldest son wants to work instead of going to school. And she can barely make payments on her current mobile home; no less buy a new double-wide. While looking for her runaway husband, she encounters a Mohawk girl named Lila (Misty Upham) who lives on a reservation near the US/Canadian border. Ray knows that upstate land was stolen from Mohawks; but she's (rightfully) too tangled-up in her own problems to treat them as anything but the normal, flawed people that they actually are. Desperate for $$, Ray reluctantly teams-up with Lila; and the two begin making runs across the frozen St. Lawrence River carrying Chinese & Pakistani immigrants in Ray's car. As single moms, they do this because they have to. But with a New York State Trooper (Michael O'Keefe, so good in 1980's The Great Santini) hot on their trail, is it all worth the risk?
There are several interesting things at work during this crime drama. For one, it isn't often we see a film about immigration that doesn't involve Mexicans (one way or another). Also, this film introduces us to modern Native American lifestyles. Just like any poverty-stricken situation, things are not peachy keen for them, either. 'Frozen River' is a tough, cold movie to watch. But it's also more compelling & intense than you'd imagine. There's not one thing that occurs to which you'd say that the plot was contrived. If we were these 2 women, would we be doing the same thing? It's a question that the film subtlety asks us. And the decisions Ray makes in the end are both startling, yet completely in-line with her character; very commendable lady.
Things don't go all that well for Ray & Lila. But there IS a light for both of them at the end of the tunnel. I mean, they won't be moving to Rodeo Drive. And the welfare of their children is up in the air. But the film ends with just enough of an uplift to thwart its overwhelming feeling of bleakness. I also loved the screenplay. For once, the characters in this film DO something rather than talking about doing it (or using montages and/or voice-overs to gloss over narrative points). Melissa Leo (as she did in 21 Grams) gives a potent, yet nuanced performance; 'nuance' should be her middle name. I felt like I was watching a woman named Ray onscreen, not an actress. Most of the supporting actor(s) aren't as successful, but Leo's the glue that holds everything together. Overall, 'Frozen River' is a great movie with sharp writing & believable scenarios. It's not a happy popcorn flick, but a very rewarding sit-through in any case.
Picture it: the barren, icy landscapes of upstate New York in December. Appealing setting, huh? Ray Eddy is a poor woman. She works part-time at a convenient store. Her eldest son wants to work instead of going to school. And she can barely make payments on her current mobile home; no less buy a new double-wide. While looking for her runaway husband, she encounters a Mohawk girl named Lila (Misty Upham) who lives on a reservation near the US/Canadian border. Ray knows that upstate land was stolen from Mohawks; but she's (rightfully) too tangled-up in her own problems to treat them as anything but the normal, flawed people that they actually are. Desperate for $$, Ray reluctantly teams-up with Lila; and the two begin making runs across the frozen St. Lawrence River carrying Chinese & Pakistani immigrants in Ray's car. As single moms, they do this because they have to. But with a New York State Trooper (Michael O'Keefe, so good in 1980's The Great Santini) hot on their trail, is it all worth the risk?
There are several interesting things at work during this crime drama. For one, it isn't often we see a film about immigration that doesn't involve Mexicans (one way or another). Also, this film introduces us to modern Native American lifestyles. Just like any poverty-stricken situation, things are not peachy keen for them, either. 'Frozen River' is a tough, cold movie to watch. But it's also more compelling & intense than you'd imagine. There's not one thing that occurs to which you'd say that the plot was contrived. If we were these 2 women, would we be doing the same thing? It's a question that the film subtlety asks us. And the decisions Ray makes in the end are both startling, yet completely in-line with her character; very commendable lady.
Things don't go all that well for Ray & Lila. But there IS a light for both of them at the end of the tunnel. I mean, they won't be moving to Rodeo Drive. And the welfare of their children is up in the air. But the film ends with just enough of an uplift to thwart its overwhelming feeling of bleakness. I also loved the screenplay. For once, the characters in this film DO something rather than talking about doing it (or using montages and/or voice-overs to gloss over narrative points). Melissa Leo (as she did in 21 Grams) gives a potent, yet nuanced performance; 'nuance' should be her middle name. I felt like I was watching a woman named Ray onscreen, not an actress. Most of the supporting actor(s) aren't as successful, but Leo's the glue that holds everything together. Overall, 'Frozen River' is a great movie with sharp writing & believable scenarios. It's not a happy popcorn flick, but a very rewarding sit-through in any case.