Review of Frozen River (1929) by Laurence C — 20 Aug 2009

The cumulative cinematic forces behind Frozen River render the experience almost disturbingly naturalistic-- and the tension generated by the turns of this bleak (yet not hopeless) story is near merciless. It's always a lot more engaging to watch a thriller that's close to reality, and first-time director Courtney Hunt clearly knows that. And yet, she doesn't let the narrative stand between us viewers and the very intriguing characters she's written; we really do get to *know* Ray and Lila, and that is something ultimately pretty rare in the movies nowadays, especially when it comes to those would-be pulse-pounders.

But Frozen River isn't just played out like a straight-up suspenser. It may speak about the relationships between Americans and Native Americans, but mostly it's about motherhood and responsibility. Melissa Leo and Misty Upham inhabit with exceptional skill two characters whose arcs are different but oh-so-similar and the end, and the scenes they share together are nothing less than magnetic. You won't doubt for a single second these are real people you're watching. Mostly, you will not see the running time pass by, and even if there is nothing very groundbreaking about Frozen River's accomplishments (it is a 'small' film, both thematically and aesthetically), you may find yourself surprisingly affected by it once it's over.