Review of Frozen River (2008) by Steven N — 30 Aug 2009

"Frozen River" is a gutsy little film that manages to not only keep you interested, but stays challenging at the same time. Written and directed by first-timer Courtney Hunt, the film tells the story of a couple of single mothers faced with desperate circumstances that end up smuggling illegals across the border by way of the St.

Lawerence River and the Mohawk reservation to make some cash. The script is extremely solid. The characters are interesting, layered, and never come anywhere close to feeling "hollywood." The lead performances are top notch - Melissa Leo being the stand out.

Some of the supporting cast - especially those with only a few lines - are awkward, stiff, and really don't work at all. If they're professional actors they need to look into a new line of work, if they aren't the director should have considered casting some professionals.

The film is shot well, paced nicely, and visually quite stunning. What I appreciate most about "Frozen River" is the fact that it lays out the questions and never once tries to give you the answers.

There's no heavy-handed morality being forced down your gullet here, and this is a good thing. While not perfect by any means, "Frozen River" gets my recommendation on some really strong writing, and solid performances.

It'll leave you feeling a little slimy, but sometimes slimy is a good thing.