The town of Massena, New York is a quiet, economically-challenged town that shares an uneasy border with a Mohawk Indian reservation along the Canadian border. Between the bleak economy and animosity between the two races, it isn't the best place to live. Ray Eddy (Melissa Leo) is one resident of the town struggling to make ends meet. A week before Christmas, her gambling-addicted husband runs off, leaving her with no money. She can't afford the payments on her trailer, buy Christmas presents for her kids or even provide them with a good meal. Even worse, her already shaky relationship with her teenaged son, T.J. (Charlie McDermott), is getting worse. T.J. blames Ray for his father's disappearance and isn't shy about sharing his displeasure with his mother.
When her boss at the dollar store refuses to increase her work hours, Ray hooks up with a bitter Mohawk widow, Lila (Misty Upham), and the two enter the black market world of smuggling. Rather than start small with firearms or drugs, the two team up to smuggle illegal aliens across Mohawk territory into America.
Like Ray and Lila's cargo, Frozen River is a movie that seems to have slipped under everyone's radar. When I first read the plot description, it sounded interesting enough to give it a look. Now that I've seen it, I'm really glad I took the chance. I really like how neither Ray nor Lila spend time moping around and whining about their predicament. Even though their actions aren't exactly noble, their intentions are. The end doesn't justify the means, but at the same time, I found myself rooting for the two.
Leo and Upham deserve much of the credit. They are excellent in their roles; to the point that Leo is up for an Academy Award among a really strong list of candidates. These are two really strong women, and not in that Angelina Jolie kick everyone's ass way.
Frozen River is very light on extras. Aside from a trailer, the only addition is commentary from writer/ director Courtney Hunt and producer Heather Rae. Compared to other commentary tracks I've heard, Hunt and Rae's track is incredibly dull. It's great if you're interested in the day-to-day proceedings and everything involved in doing a low-budget movie, but anyone interested in anything beyond that will be incredibly bored.
Frozen River doesn't offer enough eye-candy and extras to really make the Blu-ray version the one to pick, but it is still worth a watch.
