FROZEN RIVER

RYAN: “Frozen River” sounds like it could be the sequel to “Mystic River.” It’s not but it is equal to it on the drama front. Who knew the story of smuggling immigrants at the Canadian border could be so compelling?

CAROLINE: To me this is an example of a great independent, presumably low-budget movie. We’ve seen some lame indies lately, but this is a good one.

RYAN: For starters, where has this Melissa Leo, who plays the lead in the film, been all my life?

CAROLINE: I know! She has a ton of IMDB credits but I didn’t really recognize her. She was on TV’s “Homicide: Life on the Streets.”

RYAN: She’s amazing. Just watching her in the first shot of the film, I was like, “Wow, this is an actress.” It’s a great role for her.

CAROLINE: That’s the reason I dragged you to this movie, and paid 12 bucks for it. We didn’t even get invited to a screening. Ms. Leo is apparently getting early Oscar buzz, which I think might be a bit of a stretch; not that she’s not good, we just haven’t even entered Oscar season yet. Who knows what other great performances are out there?

RYAN: Exactly. We haven’t seen “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” yet.

CAROLINE: Or Angelina’s “Changeling.” So we’ll see. But Melissa Leo is great, and I also really enjoyed her co-star, who plays the Native America lady, Lila. They had an improbable friendship that I loved.

RYAN: The whole cast is great, especially the kid who plays Melissa Leo’s older son. It moves really well and the music is really interesting. It’s never awkward and all the pieces fit together. I could see how some people might find it slow moving, but I was engaged the whole time.

CAROLINE: I was surprised at how much I started to care about these characters. All told, once the action gets going, not a lot happens in the movie. But you really get invested in the characters, so when things start to go South, you’re actively concerned for them. At least, I was.

RYAN: It’s mostly an uplifting movie, but there are some very traumatic moments. I liked the excitement factor and the way it all unravels. There were things that I was predicting would happen, and then I was sometimes right and sometimes wrong.

CAROLINE: This is one of those smaller movies that not many people will be able to see. It’s only playing at two theaters here in NYC, for example. But for the indie crowd, it’s a good one. I found myself really engaged by it, not that I know a whole lot about living in a trailer or smuggling illegals across the border.

RYAN: I do have to note that Melissa Leo’s hair was consistently tragic throughout the film, and I really hope it was a wig. She didn’t comb it once.

CAROLINE: Well, this just in – her character’s poor and she lives in a trailer, so her appearance wasn’t really a priority. Given what she’s dealing with, I thought she kept it together OK. I just loved the scenes between her and Lila. They seemed so effortless. Clearly, they were both acting, but they didn’t even seem like actors. The movie almost felt like a documentary because they’re both so believable.

RYAN: Yes, so natural. And it’s a real women’s film, which we always like to see. Bottom line?

CAROLINE: I really enjoyed this movie, though I don’t think it’s a must-see unless you’re a real cinéaste. As you said, I could see how some people might find it slow. But for those who are into seeing the buzz worthy movies, you don’t want to miss this.

RYAN: I’d recommend seeing it in the theater if you can. I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much watching it on TV. If you’re interested in a good dramatic independent film, get to a big city and see this.