Review of Frozen River (2008) by Sam W — 10 Jul 2012
Life in Massena is as harsh and barren as the frigid landscape. In this bleak terrain, two hardened single mothers are trying to make lives for their children. Lila is a widowed Mohawk whose mother-in-law "stole" her newborn son a year ago. Faced with little opportunity to make ends meet, Ray and Lila embark on an illegal venture transporting immigrants into the U.S. across Mohawk territory.
The Sundance festival winner of 2008 and also Oscar nominations for Melissa Leo and screenplay a relatively small film was raised to great highs on release, and expectations will be high on viewing.
The acting is solid and Leo deserved her praise, but the slightly ordinary feel of this drama, the everyday events surrounding family life would suit more a hard hitting drama, rather than a hard hitting thriller which the film has been pitched at and attempts to execute.
The films grounded style and is ultimately more suited for a TV film rather than the full cinema experience.
This review of Frozen River (2008) was written by Sam W on 10 Jul 2012.
Frozen River has generally received positive reviews.
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