Frozen River (2008) – 4*

Dir: Courtney Hunt / Writer: Courtney Hunt/ Cinematography: Reed Morano

It's bleak up north (image: Criana FlickrCC)

When Ray’s husband skips town 3 days before Christmas taking their life savings with him there’s little time for pining – her concern is for her two sons and, more immediately, what she’s going to do now there’s no money for their new trailer home due to arrive later that day.

Life in Massena, New York – a Mohawk reservation town on the border with Canada – is a hand-to-mouth existence for most but with no savings, two boys, a home that’s falling to bits  and only a waitressing job to bring in funds, Ray faces an extremely grim new year.

A chance encounter brings her into contact with Lila Littlewolf, an outcast member of the local  Mohawk tribe, and the highly dangerous smuggling trade that the Indians operate. Using the frozen St. Lawrence river as an artery all manner of contraband brought into the US from Canada. Illegal, dangerous – this kind of work comes with a fat pay packet but you need a car and you need contacts.  Ray has the car and Lila has the contacts – neither likes or trusts the other but it’s a partnership of necessity as the single mums try to hold their lives together.

Sparsely, but beautifully, shot this is a thought-provoking and nail-biting film where you’re rooting for the women to finally, hopefully, make it through against the ever growing odds.

Review rating for Frozen River: 4/5
IMDb entry for Frozen River

The Fighter (2010)

Dir: David O. Russell / Writers: Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy/ Cinematography: Hoyte Van Hoytema

Everything looks better in soft focus (image: OscarD FlickrCC)

Rocky for the new millennium?
A boxing movie that’s more about the characters outside than inside the ring…sounds strangely familiar? Well, The Fighter very much follows its own groove, as might be expected from fiercely independent director David O. Russell, but there are definite similarities to Rocky in its focus on the importance of family and community, and its recognition that even the most loving ties can bind you too tightly.

This Irish-American boxer, Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) is a quiet, rather colourless soul compared to his rabble of larger + louder than life siblings. Elder brother Dicky Eklund (Oscar nominated Christian Bale) is the charmer of the family, a former prize fighter and the spoiled favourite of their gum-chewing, hard-nosed mother. He is also (and Bale plays this to full jittery, mad-eyed OTT effect) a crack addict who deludes himself (and his mother) that he’s got one more fight left in him.