Holstra Boring, long, and too preachy.

Livestonth I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Doomtomylo a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

AshUnow This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Lee Eisenberg Melissa Leo first came to my attention when I saw "The Fighter". She won an Academy Award for her role as the hardened mother, the type who makes you feel as if you're walking on eggshells (she let slip a curse word during her acceptance speech).Two years earlier Leo had played a lead role in "Frozen River". She plays Ray, a woman working a minimum wage job and living in a double-wide mobile home. When her husband disappears with the family's money, Ray joins up with Lila (Misty Upham), a Mohawk woman, and they start transporting illegal immigrants across the US-Canada border.Almost every scene in this movie tenses the viewer up. Whether it's the claustrophobic settings or the risks of something happening during the transports, the movie pulls no punches in its focus on the marginalized sectors of society. The snow and ice emphasize the desperation that drives these women to start breaking the law. I recommend it, as I do every movie in which I've seen Melissa Leo. Too bad about Misty Upham's untimely death in 2014.

eric262003 "Frozen River" is a captivating independent movie that stars Oscar winner Melissa Leo as a long-suffering wife named Ray who is wed to gambling addicted husband who has fled the coop shortly before the Holiday Season. On her own raising her adolescent son T.J. (Charlie McDermott) and her toddler son Ricky (James Reilly) and if you think raising two children in squalor is bad, Ray is constantly badgered by creditors. All there is to eat on the menu at their house is powered drinks and potato chips. She works at a dollar store where she's been been contemplating a promotion that has been promised to her for two years. Melissa and her two offspring reside in a trailer that is not in the best of condition. She has dreams for something much more better. Lady luck comes her way when she joins forces with a young Native woman from a Mohawk Nation that rests between the United States and Canadian border. As an alliance they embark on smuggling illegal immigrants into North America. Ray will continue to do it until she has enough dough for a better establishment. But it isn't until very long that the police are hot on her trail. The question is will she be able to make enough to support her family?At first Ray and Lila (Misty Upham) start off as strictly business allies. But as the film progresses, they begin to progressively have faith in each other. The movie also looks at the poverty that's faced in the reservation and how neglected and overlooked Native reservations have faced over the years in both Canada and the United States. This one should be admired by many. It tells a bleak observation that people will do anything to get what they want and it's not always a bad thing. In the case of Ray, she's doing an illegal mission, but not for selfish purposes. There's no explosions or cheap thrills, but the photography is top notch and the character development is so natural, you wouldn't think they were performing. It truly is a gem that is highly recommended.

namashi_1 Courtney Hunt's 'Frozen River' caters to a niche audience, but for it's tiny section of buffs, it comes out a delight. Also, Melissa Leo packs in a winning performance, that makes this difficult story even more intriguing.'Frozen River' focuses on two working-class women who smuggle illegal immigrants in the trunk of a car from Canada to the U.S in order to make ends meet.'Frozen River' is a disturbing story, and Courtney Hunt's writing & direction never runs away from that fact. The journey of these 2 women, is dark, disturbing & moving. But, the culmination is half-baked. Though not bad, it lacks a solid punch, which this story promises to deliver.Acting wise, Melissa Leo is very convincing. She makes you feel the pain & desperation in her, in each and every frame. Misty Upham is another topper as the other woman. She particularly stands out in the penultimate moments. Charlie McDermott is sincere. Michael O'Keefe leaves a mark. Others lend decent support.On the whole, 'Frozen River' has and will be loved by it's audience, it tries to talk to. In that context & understanding, this is a story worth watching.

Steve West I admit I only watched this because I heard that Melissa Leo (who played Detective Howard in Homicide) had won some sort of recognition for putting in a good performance. It sounded like a good film on that basis and I wasn't disappointed. Frozen River offers a slice of life across the other side of the world (for me), it was appropriate watching it in the middle of a heatwave as others in the northern hemisphere (in certain regions) are experiencing these sorts of conditions at this time of year.It ticks all the right boxes of being interesting the whole way through, being well casted and acted. Detective Howard was more of a peripheral character on Homicide so it was good to see what Leo could do with a lead role. Upham is a good supporting actor and doesn't ruin suspension of disbelief due to crappy acting or anything (same for the child actors).The Native American aspect gives the film a unique flavour so in fact it is appealing from a number of different angles. It's fairly safe to watch with a general audience (no swearing that I can recall), some shots are fired and that's about as extreme as it gets.