Frozen River (2008)

Note Générale:

7,3/10   

Réalisateur:

Courtney Hunt

Scénariste (WGA):

Courtney Hunt (written by)

Date de sortie:

31 octobre 2008 (Venezuela)

Genre:

Crime | Drame

Accroche:

Desperation knows no borders.

Intrigue:

Takes place in the days before Christmas near a little-known border crossing on the Mohawk reservation between New York State and Quebec...

Plot Keywords:

Mohawk | Money | Smuggling | New York State | Car

Récompenses:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 24 wins & 14 nominations

Avis des utilisateurs:

Courtney Hunt brilliantly explores a rare genre: the humanistic thriller

Ensemble

Melissa Leo	...	Ray Eddy
Misty Upham	...	Lila Littlewolf
Charlie McDermott	...	Troy J. 'T.J.' Eddy
Michael O'Keefe	...	Trooper Finnerty
Mark Boone Junior	...	Jacques Bruno
James Reilly	...	Ricky Eddy
Jay Klaitz	...	Guy Versailles
John Canoe	...	Bernie Littlewolf
Dylan Carusona	...	Jimmy
Michael Sky	...	Billy Three Rivers
Gargi Shinde	...	Pakistani Mother
Rajesh Bose	...	Pakistani Father
Azin Jahanbakhsh	...	Pakistani Dealer
Jack Phillips	...	Pakistani Baby
James Phillips	...	Pakistani Baby

MPAA:

Rated R for some language.

Durée:

97 min

Pays:

USA

Langue:

Anglais | Français

Couleur:

Couleur

Rapport de forme:

1,78 : 1

Son:

Dolby Digital

Classification:

USA:R | New Zealand:R16 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Sweden:7 | Finland:K-11 | Netherlands:12 | Australia:MA | France:U | Singapore:PG | Ireland:12A | UK:15

Lieux de tournage:

New York, USA

Société:

Cohen Media Group

Anecdotes:

Charlie McDermott and James Reilly, who play brothers, are, in actual life, cousins.

Goofs:

Erreurs dans la géographie: Based on the car license plates on the Canadian side, and the Quebecois dialogue of the Canadian characters, the implied smuggling route runs directly across the St Lawrence River (or another major nearby river) from Quebec into N.Y. State. However, at no point does any major river (including the St Lawrence) form the boundary between Quebec and upstate N.Y. The St Lawrence does however form the boundary between upstate N.Y. and the (largely English-speaking) province of Ontario, and there is a major Mohawk Indian reservation situated on the N.Y. side of that section of the Canada-U.S. boundary.

Guillemet:

Ray Eddy: I think we need to talk about this Troy... come on out. Troy?
[shoots gun]
Ray Eddy: ... I mean it Honey.

Connexions:

figure dans "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2008-08-02)" (2008)

Courtney Hunt brilliantly explores a rare genre: the humanistic thriller

Courtney Hunt's début feature, "Frozen River", winner of this year's Sundance's Grand Jury Prize, is as tense as a great thriller should be, and also a heartfelt, poignant drama.

Ray Eddy (Melissa Leo) was just abandoned by her druggie husband, having to take care of their two kids and pay for their house alone (otherwise, they'll be evicted). With her minimum wage job at a local store, Ray can't make enough money, but chance will introduce her to a young Mohawk, Lila (Misty Upham), who smuggles illegal immigrants across the frozen St. Lawrence River (between New York State and Québec), and both will be forced to risk a lot in order to get the money they need.

Hunt's writing/directing is secure and reveals a very promising talent, but the film's major strength is the extraordinary performances of the lead actresses, in particular Melissa Leo ("21 Grams", "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada"), magnificent character actress turned lead. Totally deglamourized, her screen presence is real, visceral, almost organic. A flawless performance in a great film, that is at once sad, suspenseful and hopeful. It's not every movie that makes you feel for and really care for its characters, but "Frozen River" is one of those rare gems. 10/10.