From the point of view of plot, this is predictable and repetitive, but actually as social commentary this is unrelentingly bleak and effective. Deliberately repetivie, all too predictable, with paternal responsibilty entirely absent throughout.

This indie-film was largely overseen by the danish film distribution. What a shame. A single mother's attempts to save her fragile family is the plot in this, in all aspects, formidable film. I see it as sort of a social realistic thriller, both exciting, nail-biting and most of all honest in its picture of outskirt-societies, often left alone, ruling itself. Also, I have to attach an important comment to Melissa Leo; she's just great.

This is an exceptionally mature drama, in equal parts gripping and touching. The performances are spot-on from all actors but particularly Melissa Leo in the lead role. Amazing to think that this is writer-director Courtney Hunt's first feature film. I did not realise this had been nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar in 2008 - good call, Academy.

Melissa Leo's performance is pretty good but some of the other performances were very weak at times. The scenes out at the crossing point of the river look good but then all the stuff at the house looks like it is a home video or something. Some of the action is tense and I did like some of the script, especially the ending which is far better than the film deserves to be honest: there are also loads of flaws and bits where characters act in unbelievable ways.

There are strains in the plot here and there, and occasional moments when motivations aren't as fleshed out as they could or should be, but overall the film is disarmingly evocative in its depiction of lives lived on the very edge of economic devastation. The understated intensity of Leo's work is nicely counterbalanced by Upham, who brings the right mix of calculated disinterest and impatient opportunism to her performance as the Native American who becomes the leery partner of Leo's character.

The cinematography and extremely low production value kind of wrecked this film for me. The lead actress is good, the rest are not. Also, the way characters and reactions are written into the story here is simply not believable. Basically it is a boring drama with few redeeming qualities.

A bleak but ultimately hopeful film about the difficulty of doing what's right. Beautifully acted.

They got me as soon as I saw it was about those deep dark US of As we never see on TV. Throw in everything else and you got yourself a pretty good flick.

Beautifully understated little working-class drama that keeps managing to increase the suspense without any huge action scenes or plots. Fantastic acting, too. The sort of movie the Coens might make if they really cared about their characters.

Frozen River is one little piece of misery.

80.500

"A dubious mix of suspense and social melodrama." - Ed Gonzalez

A fucking double wide.

28 mart 11, ankara'dan istanbul'a donerken otobuste & hic bir erkege ihtiyac duymaksizin tek basina ayaklarinin ustunde durabilen, cocuguna bakabilen kadinlar hakkinda- en azindan ben filme bu gozle baktim ve bu haliyle de oldukca feminist bir film oldugunu dusunuyorum. atmosferi cok basarili kurulmus, (bu da senaryodan kaynaklaniyor) oyunculuklar yardimiyla da film 'basarili' hale geliyor. basit bir hikaye, fazlasi yok. olmasi gerektigi gibi.

A tale that leaves much unsaid but communicates volumes about poverty and injustice. Melissa Leo and Misty Upham are a revelation as two very different women who bond over motherhood and their lack of options. Their nuanced relationship is the type rarely seen on film. Courtney Hunt who wrote and directed keeps it real and refuses to go for a Hollywood ending clear through the final frame.

An impressive low-key indie.

Pretty rare to see these characters and locations in a film.

Melissa Leo delivers the perfomance of a lifetime in this indie but powerful movie.

great lead performance just slightly makes up for the shite screenplay and drab direction

See Ballast instead...

Harrowing.

Well, this is great. It's rare to see a movie that focuses on the US/Canadian border conflict and a native american reservoir, in fact I have never before seen it. The characters are all deeply sympathetic despite the fact that they commit various acts of questionable morality.

Intimate, unaffected and sentimental.

Didn't really care about Melissa Leo's performance. Also Hunt's directing and writing were subpar. Boring drama with stupid people.