Review of The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005) by Spangle — 09 Feb 2017

An ode to mothers, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio is a heartbreaking, heartwarming, and truly powerful tale of a suburban mother in the 1950s-1960s. Evelyn Ryan (Julianne Moore) is a real woman and the mother of the source material's author, Terry Ryan (portrayed in the film by Ellary Porterfield). The mother of 10 kids and constantly battling poverty, Evelyn competes in jingle contests. A nostalgic look at how this mother helped to ensure ends were met by being the best contest participant and constantly winning free goods, free food, and money, the film is a beautiful depiction of this incredibly strong woman that fought tooth and nail for her kids to eat at all costs.

Pairing together Julianne Moore in a starring role and Laura Dern in a supporting role with a female director, it quickly becomes clear that this film is about to be a feminist romp. It is glorious in this fashion as it shows just how horrible the conditions were for women in this era. They are restricted to the home. Men doubt they do anything at all and women themselves downplay what they do and their own intelligence. Meanwhile, when men are left with the kids, they are inept and incapable of relating to ther children, highlighting just how hard a mother's job was back then. Director Jane Anderson does a tremendous job not making the film preachy in this regard and instead shows how these women contribute, celebrating their accomplishments. They may not make the money, but they compete and raise the kids, which are crucial to the health and prosperity of the family. Yet, it also shows the toll it takes on the men with Kelly Ryan (Woody Harrelson) constantly battling his masculinity with co-workers mocking him for his wife's success as a contest entrant and his own inability to bring home enough money. She refuses to demonize the husband, however, instead opting to give a tender characterization of a broken man.

This broken man is one with a lot of anger. He hates himself thoroughly. His most egregious actions are fueled out of self-hatred and a low self-esteem. He feels like a chump for not being able to provide for his family, so he takes it out on himself in tremendous fashion. Watching a baseball game and getting blind with rage, drinking a six-pack daily, and locking the kids out of the house to cry on his own for fear his wife left him, are all moments that are incredibly powerful. Harrelson does a great job portraying this man that is so easy to hate and demonize, but both Evelyn and the director refuse to demonize him. He is a sympathetic character, if you can look past the rough exterior. For a man who carries himself so gruffly, he is a truly broken and shattered man on the inside and it is tragic to watch unfold.

Yet, the star here is Evelyn. Kelly is an alcoholic, self-deprecating, and filled with rage. The family can never get their head above water financially. The kids are mischievous and there are ten of them. But, through it all, Evelyn is smiling and happy. She loves her life, even with all of its faults. It is a testament to women's strength throughout in this regard as Evelyn is a bright star amidst this black sky. Julianne Moore brilliantly portrays this woman who gets absolutely nothing. She works hard and slaves everyday with nothing in return. She passionately wants a few things, but sacrifices day and night for her family. It is powerful and emotional to watch unfold and a struggle that is not lost on her children who bravely fight for her whenever Kelly gets mad. The bond between Evelyn and her children is gorgeously and gracefully portrayed throughout, with this bond being the real highlight of this film. Moore portrays Evelyn with equal grace, strength, and power throughout. Evelyn is a woman that, despite her restraining factors, is an inspirational to everybody for how she gives and gives without any expectation of getting something in return. This is why when she gets a few things from Kelly or her kids, the film becomes so powerful and moving as it is one of the few things she can actually call her own.

Terrifically written and acted, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio is a beautiful ode to mothers and the sacrifices they make, while also being a depiction of the struggles faced by all suburban stay-at-home mothers in this era. It is a truly moving experience and though the film is not perfect, it is one that really packs an emotional punch.