The most bizarre film I've seen for years - read on to see why! (Frozen River (DVD))

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	Frozen River (DVD)
Date:	07/04/09 (30 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: the first half

Disadvantages: the second half

WHAT IS IT ABOUT:
An impoverished mother of two decides to take drastic action to put things right, and begins taking part in human trafficking to bring in some much needed cash. This original drama is set in the snowy out-back of Canada.

IS IT ANY GOOD:
I'd put off watching this one because I'd not heard good things about it, but after switching 'PS I Love You' off after ten minutes, there wasn't anything else on offer. I have to say that this is a unique film for me, in that it is so radically different from the first to the second half.

The first half is a very interesting gritty drama. What I noticed most of all was the authenticity of the whole thing - the poor mother and her basic lifestyle was pulling at my heart-strings. In fact, Melissa Leo did a brilliant job. The film was reminiscent of 'Fargo' in its snowy realism and grittiness, and I was really enjoying it. The plot was different, and therefore unpredictable (which is always a good thing).

Then the second half came, and I wish it didn't! I don't know why, but the authenticity just went. The plot got rushed and unrealistic, out of character things happened that made no sense with the first half, and even the camera seemed to change. I don't know much about cinema, but the second half had a distinctly soap opera vibe to it, with the shot physically different from before. It's almost as if they got half-way through making a good film when funding ran out, so they rushed the end. The new characters in the second half are poorly acted and weak, and it's just a disaster.

I have never had that experience before, and it leaves me thinking 'did I like it?' The truth is that the first half had everything going for it, from plot to acting, but the second half slowly fell apart, leaving a 'made for TV' vibe that probably accounts for much of the poor ratings it has received.

Summary: don't bother