Frozen River

(2008)

Directed by

Courtney Hunt

Review by Todd Plucknett

Courtney Hunt’s first film Frozen River is a superbly quiet and intense experience. It is incredibly deep and insightful, and there are plenty of rewards to be had in the fabulously original and brilliant screenplay. It is a nearly flawless film that needs to be seen.

The film revolves around Ray Eddy (Melissa Leo), a woman who has recently been left by her husband, who took all their money to gamble. Ray was left there with her two children in their worn-down trailer home. She works at a dollar store thrift shop, where she has been for two years without a promotion. Her fifteen year old son T.J. (Charlie McDermott) is stuck taking care of her five year old (James Reilly) most of the time. Even adding to her distress, Ray’s husband’s car is seen at a high stakes bingo building. When she sees someone get into the car that isn’t her husband, she follows the car through the woods to the woman’s home. It was a Mohawk woman named Lila (Misty Upham). When she refuses to give the keys to her, Ray shoots a hole in the woman’s trailer. Lila manipulates her into agreeing to use that car to transport illegal aliens across the frozen river on the reservation, which is not under United States jurisdiction. Each payment of $1200 will be enough for Ray to pay for her seemingly luxurious double-wide trailer that she has promised her kids several times. At many times, Ray is reluctant and even refuses, not knowing who these people are and what they are actually trying to achieve once they sneak into the US. Lila informs her that they are going to have to work off the $40,000 entrance fee for as much as two years. Ray cannot believe this truth, wondering who would want to pay that much just to get to where she is at, being a poverty-stricken woman, bordering on homelessness.

Leo is a character actress who finally got a significant leading role in this film. She is absolutely superb and subtle. She is one of those people who can wear every one of her emotions on her face, and you can really connect with the character in that way. This is a performance that definitely should be remembered around Oscar time. Another fantastic performance in the film is by Upham. She is perfectly believable in her role, and she and Leo work off each other seemingly effortlessly. The chemistry that they developed is one of the most astonishing achievements in this brilliant film. McDermott is surprisingly good as Leo’s elder son. He mostly reminded me of Paul Dano, and his performance is almost comparable to Dano’s in Little Miss Sunshine. McDermott slides into the character without too much force, and he is totally believable. The acting is one of the elements that lifts the film to be something more than just a basic independent drama. All the actors give authentic performances that will certainly stick with you.

The screenplay is a beautiful achievement. Hunt’s film starts as a great drama with great characters, but then it turns into one of the most quietly intense films in recent memory. There are stretches where very little is said, but it never loses the audience’s attention. The silence makes many of the scenes even more interesting and thrilling. The film really takes you into this unknown corner of the country, and it uses realism to expose its drama. Showing people on that poverty line is something that many people have failed in films; this one hits all the right notes.

In addition, it is not political about the illegal immigrant situation. It simply shows what it is like, and you can draw your own conclusions. It is a lot like The Visitor in that way. The symbolism that the movie represents makes the film even more deep and emotional. This film will have you thinking about the characters and the decisions they make well after the credits role. The film is wrenching in some of its scenes, and the ending is just about perfect. It is a film that should be seen, one of the best American films to come out this year so far.

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