RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

matmag361-365-953102 "Frozen River" is an example of what great indie film making is all about.Instead of special effects and outrageous plot twists, we are shown real people caught up in some of the significant issues of life.First let me say that the acting by Melissa Leo, and especially Misty Upham is superb. Both characters grow in stature as the film progresses; what seem to be clichés at the start become powerful archetypes. The direction and cinematography cannot be faulted anywhere. Just well done all the way, without drawing special attention to itself. They let the story take preeminence. "Frozen River" will challenge your way of seeing cultures, borders, and family. It is the type of movie that stays with you. Don't miss it.

wandereramor A frigid crime drama that resembles nothing so much as a Northeastern version of Breaking Bad, Frozen River is about desperate people forced into crime. Melissa Leo's almost-unnamed character and her family are the refuse of a total systemic failure -- a collective failure of the nuclear family, the state, and the economy to take care of their own. The Native American characters are remnants of an even older failure. And with the state having failed them, what choice do they have but to attack the state in return through aiding illegal immigration? There's nothing knock-your-pants-off amazing about Frozen River, but it's a solid drama, and a great directorial debut for Courtney Hunt. Leo and Misty Upham are great in the leading roles, the former playing the tough working-class type she's spent a career perfecting and the latter a complete revelation. You might notice that all three of these central forces are women, and this is very much a women's movie, or at least a female-centric take on an usually very male genre. That alone is nice to see in a relatively mainstream film.Again, Frozen River isn't a perfect film (it uses a lot of contrivances to get its plot going) and in the end it's probably not something you'll remember for a long time after seeing it. But it's a nice workmanlike picture that never drags or gets silly, and those are hard enough to come by these days.

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.

Rindiana Small-scale social drama that's never quite as honestly touching as it's ought to be, but still succeeds to be a solid and watchable indie product.The directing and some of the acting have a slight air of amateurishness to them, though some performances are great, and the screenplay is also rough around the edges, indeed.But the interesting setting and some of the ways the plot's handled are satisfactory as well as the pic's calm and gentle pay-off.And it's good to see socially aware American cinema for a change.6 out of 10 babies on ice