IMDb > The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005)
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 23 | slideshow) Videos (see all 4)
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005) -- AllTrailers.net - Trailer (Flash)
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005) -- In order to support her ten children, Evelyn Ryan (Moore) enters a commercial jingle-writing contest. Based on a true story.

Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   3,221 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Terry Ryan (book)
Jane Anderson (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 June 2007 (Spain) more
Genre:
Tagline:
The true story of how a mother raised ten kids on twenty-five words or less.
Plot:
In order to support her ten children, Evelyn Ryan (Moore) enters a commercial jingle-writing contest. Based on a true story. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 nomination more
User Comments:
how can you not love Julianne Moore? more (65 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Julianne Moore ... Evelyn Ryan

Woody Harrelson ... Kelly Ryan

Laura Dern ... Dortha Schaefer
Trevor Morgan ... Bruce Ryan at 16 yrs

Ellary Porterfield ... Tuff Ryan at 13, 16 & 18 yrs
Simon Reynolds ... Ray the Milkman
Monté Gagné ... Lea Anne Ryan at 17 yrs
Robert Clark ... Dick Ryan at 16 yrs

Michael Seater ... Bub Ryan at 15 yrs

Erik Knudsen ... Rog Ryan at 13 yrs
Jake Scott ... Bruce Ryan at 11 yrs

Jordan Todosey ... Tuff Ryan at 9 yrs
Ryan Price ... Mike Ryan at 6 yrs
Shae Norris ... Barb Ryan at 4 yrs
Abigail Falle ... Betsy Ryan at 2 yrs
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 thematic elements, some disturbing images and language.
Runtime:
99 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41773)
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The contest ads seen under the opening credits were taken from Evelyn Ryan's drawer. They were given to the filmmakers by her daughter Betty. more
Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: On two occasions, characters mention the distance between Defiance, Ohio and Payne, Ohio. It's clear they actually said the distance was 45 miles, but the words "85 miles" were dubbed in later. more
Quotes:
Evelyn Ryan: Everything is possible. more
Movie Connections:
Features "Queen for a Day" (1956) more
Soundtrack:
Bye Bye Blues more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
55 out of 58 people found the following comment useful.
how can you not love Julianne Moore?, 29 September 2005
8/10
Author: jknight-17 from United States

Contesting, a trend popular in the 1950's and 60's, is now all but forgotten. Women across the country used their wit and wordplay to win thousands of dollars by writing slogans for companies to promote their products. Julianne Moore stars in "The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio," as Evelyn Ryan, one such contester who uses her talents to keep her family fed despite their abject poverty. The film co-stars Woody Harrelson as Evelyn's husband Kelly Ryan, a man struggling with alcoholism and his ill-begotten fate as a factory worker. Unlike most, Evelyn is not just an occasional contest winner. Her knack for jingle writer provides for her family of twelve and her winning is proportional to her families needs. Throughout the course of the film, her role as breadwinner creates friction between she and her husband, which Evelyn (Moore) manages with incredible grace and constant optimism. Indeed, Moore is radiant in this role and perfectly cast. Harrelson's performance is equally engaging and his moments of depression and rage are the ideal compliment to Moore's steady courage. Oscar Nominee Laura Dern gives an notable performance as a member of the Affadaisies, a group of contesting mothers which Evelyn befriends. Dern is quirky and lovable, despite her very small role.

"Prize Winner" is adapted from a book of the same name, a real life account of Evelyn Ryan's life. The book is authored by Ryan's daughter Terry, who appears in the film and is also re-incarnated as her younger self in the character Tuff, played with strength by Ellary Porterfield who makes her feature film debut. Terry Ryan admits thats her book's "intent was to bring her mother back to life..." and certainly the film is also a vehicle for this. Thankfully, and unexpectedly, the movie does not suffer from over sentimentalization, thanks to brilliant script adaptation and direction on the part of Jane Anderson who, although lacking feature film experience, creates honest and captivating scenes that beautifully depict the Ryan's family life. Anderson is so expert at using symbols within the film to shape an audiences opinion of the characters, it is barely perceptible on the first viewing. The film is beautifully layered with symbols of motherhood and Catholicism, none of which are so obvious as to interfere with the lighthearted moments that make the film captivating. Anderson deftly transitions from the high points of the family's success to the terrible depths of their despair, capturing the audience as they share in the Ryan's joys and sorrows. Anderson's hard work in showing the families dynamic is most evident however in the cohesiveness of the Ryan children, all of whom look like a potential genetic pairing between Moore and Harrelson, and all of whom seemed enthusiastic about their work in the film. when asked what he learned from his more experienced co-stars, Robert Clarke, who plays the Ryan's oldest son Dick, mentioned Harrelson's multitude of approaches to a scene and Moore's constant professionalism. Ellory Potterfield (Tuff) commented that for her, working with Moore emphasized that "there is no acting, only reacting."

Writers, Directors, and child stars aside, it is Julianne Moore who brings the role of Evelyn to life and real humanity to the film. "She was an extraordinary woman who lived an ordinary life," Moore said of the real life Ryan at the movie's premier in Manhattan, "I think anyone can relate to trying to raise a family." The Prizewinner also bears the distinct mark of Producer Robert Zemeckis, and this film is moderately reminiscent of the Academy Award winning Zemeckis feature, "Forest Gump." As seen in Gump, Zemeckis is fond of the triumphant underdog, the everyman who perseveres thanks to their unique outlook. Zemeckis's initial reaction to the book was that "it seemed like an almost impossible but wonderful story...it was Evelyn's unshakable optimism and her love of life- the spiritual quality that allowed her to get through a life of hardships."

While Prizewinner is certainly not a new take on the BO-flick , the film relies heavily on it's more than capable cast and is a very sensitive portrayal of what must have been a remarkable woman. Although there are a points at which the storytelling is inefficient, and the exposition clunky, (at points it borders on downright awkward) I left the theater feeling as the though the movie could have told more stories of the Ryan's. I wanted to know more of their lives, and it was that fascination with the characters and events of the film that left me satisfied. The film is as pithy and poignant as one of Evelyn's jingles. Ultimately, Julianne Moore's stoic portrayal of Evelyn is so breathtaking and passionate that any audience member left unmoved should check their pulse.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (65 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Anti-male propaganda seventh_son_of_a_seventh_son
Nora Dunn JayBoBo
Other things written by Terry Ryan lospitch
Why could the mother not drive...I came in a little late to the movie Gordon_Gartrelle
What If ???-different casting grills
evelyn's supermarket sweep miriamwebster
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Slaughterhouse-Five The Kite Runner The Night of the Hunter L'albero degli zoccoli Die Blechtrommel
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Biography section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.