Frozen River (2008)

Director:

Courtney Hunt

Writer (WGA):

Courtney Hunt (written by)

Release Date:

31 October 2008 (Venezuela)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Desperation knows no borders.

Plot:

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 | New York | River | Smuggling

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 33 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Melissa Leo	...	Ray Eddy
Misty Upham	...	Lila Littlewolf
Charlie McDermott	...	T.J.
Michael O'Keefe	...	Trooper Finnerty
Mark Boone Junior	...	Jacques Bruno
James Reilly	...	Ricky
Jay Klaitz	...	Guy Versailles
John Canoe	...	Bernie Littlewolf
Dylan Carusona	...	Jimmy
Michael Skye	...	Billy Three Rivers (as Michael Sky)
Gargi Shinde	...	Pakistani Mother
Rajesh Bose	...	Pakistani Father
Azin Jahanbakhsh	...	Pakistani Dealer
Jack Phillips	...	Pakistani Baby
James Phillips	...	Pakistani Baby
Madelyn Cross	...	Velma - Ticket Taker
Donna Jacobs	...	Evelyn Littlewoof
Trudy Rice	...	Rosalie
Craig Shilowich	...	Matt
Brittany Leborgne	...	Pat
Justin Kotyk	...	Mick
Betty Ouyang	...	Li Wei - Chinese Woman #1
Nancy Wu	...	Chen Li - Chinese Woman #2
Pun Bandhu	...	Chinese Man #1
Scott Chan	...	Chinese Man #2
Joey Chanlin	...	Chinese Man #3
Kenneth Fung	...	Chinese Man #4
Brian Lashway	...	Rent-To-Own Man
Paul Borst	...	Rent-To-Own Man
Trisha M. Sky	...	Danceuses Nues Bartender
Angelina Kent	...	Danceuses Nues Dancer
Angus Curotte	...	Wolf Mart Attendant
Adam Lukens	...	Mitch
Thahnhahténhtha Gilbert	...	Little Jake
Tom Messner	...	TV Weatherman
Betty Deer	...	Mrs. Three Rivers
Scott W. Beebie	...	Surete De Quebec Officer
Gary Hemingway	...	Mobile Home Driver
John K. Vanvalkenburg	...	Mobile Home Driver
Jonathan T. Vanvalkenburg	...	Mobile Home Driver
Pat Fisher	...	Mobile Home Customer
Sherry Drinkwine	...	Mobile Home Customer
Konwenni Jacobs	...	Wolf Mart Patron
Catherine Deer	...	Wolf Mart Patron
Melissa-Jean Deer	...	Wolf Mart Patron
Patrice Jersey	...	Yankee One Dollar Patron
David Jersey	...	Yankee One Dollar Patron
Cameron Jersey	...	Yankee One Dollar Patron
Lance Delisle	...	Bingo Caller / Disc Jockey (voice)
Crystal Shade	...	Bingo Parlor Worker
Darleen Thompson	...	Bingo Parlor Worker
Joe Clukey	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Nicole Clukey	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
John Conroy	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Daniel Dame	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Donnell Dame	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Donna Dame	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Summer Lynn Dame	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Natalie Dame	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Donna David	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Wilfred David	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Brittany Dennis	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Cristal Dennis	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Priscilla Dennis	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Raymond Devins	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Esther Devins	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Ruth A. Dixon	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Linda M. Dombrowski	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Hugette Dubuque	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Mary T. Favreau	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Maria Garrant	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Jacob Guerin	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Meaghan Hollo	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Larry Joiner	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Elizabeth Martineau	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Joseph McLean	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Walter E. Mooney	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Jane Mooney	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Jessica Rock	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Nancy L. Russell	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
David See	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Cecile Stone	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Sylvester Watson	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Carrie Watson	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Josie White	...	Bingo Parlor Patron
Dino	...	Thunder

Directed by
Courtney Hunt

Writing credits (WGA)
Courtney Hunt		(written by)

Produced by
Charles S. Cohen	....	executive producer
Molly Conners	....	co-producer
Jenny R. Evans	....	associate producer (as Jenny Evans)
Donald Harwood	....	executive producer (as Donald A. Harwood)
Chip Hourihan	....	line producer
Chip Hourihan	....	producer
Jay B. Itkowitz	....	co-executive producer
Laura Mehlhaff	....	assistant producer
Heather Rae	....	producer
Craig Shilowich	....	assistant producer
Alfonso Trinidad	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Peter Golub
Shahzad Ismaily		(as Shahzad Ali Ismaily)

Cinematography by
Reed Morano		(director of photography) (as Reed Dawson Morano)

Film Editing by
Kate Williams

Production Design by
Inbal Weinberg

Art Direction by
Brian Rzepka

Set Decoration by
Jasmine E. Ballou		(as Jasmine Ballou)

Costume Design by
Abby O'Sullivan

Makeup Department
Brittany Leborgne	....	makeup intern
Lindsey Novotny	....	hair stylist
Lindsey Novotny	....	makeup artist
Crystal Shade	....	hair stylist
Crystal Shade	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Anne Marie Dentici	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vadim Epstein	....	second assistant director
Kevin Pazmino	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Rachael Palmer Filsinger	....	assistant set decorator (as Rachel Filsinger)
Joel Hager	....	assistant property master
Richard Peete	....	set dresser
Max Sherwood	....	property master
Jory Sutton	....	art department assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
Kevin Adams	....	boom operator
Micah Bloomberg	....	sound mixer
Travis Call	....	audio post supervisor
Thomas Kordos	....	sound consultant: Dolby (as Thomas Kordos)
Roberto Lange	....	foley engineer
Cory Melious	....	sound editor
Cory Melious	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ryan M. Price	....	m&e mixer
Jason Trammell	....	foley artist
Tony Volante	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Carlos Sotolongo	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Mark A. Brown	....	digital film services (as Marc Brown)
Nicholas Daniels	....	lead effects animator: Leonardo Quiles Studios (as Nicholas Daniels)
Leonardo Quiles	....	visual effects supervisor: Leonardo Quiles Studios

Stunts
Tim Garris	....	stunt coordinator
Alex Kerwin	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Nathan Beaman	....	best boy grip
Justin Bennett	....	electrician (as Justin 'Rusty' Bennett)
Justin Bennett	....	grip (as Justin 'Rusty' Bennett)
Jeremy Conley	....	grip intern
Darren Frohlich	....	electrician
Darren Frohlich	....	grip
David Ganczewski	....	best boy electric
Rob Harlow	....	electrician
Rob Harlow	....	grip
Kate Larose	....	first assistant camera
Adam Lukens	....	key grip
Kristian Maynard	....	second assistant camera (as Kristian Maynard)
Dan Mazur	....	electrician
Dan Mazur	....	grip
Reed Morano	....	camera operator
Georgia Pantazopoulos	....	electrician
Georgia Pantazopoulos	....	grip
Elizabeth Stern	....	electrician (as Elizabeth 'Bette' Stern)
Elizabeth Stern	....	grip (as Elizabeth 'Bette' Stern)
Waris Supanpong	....	first assistant camera
Jory Sutton	....	still photographer
Matthew Walker	....	gaffer (as Matt Walker)

Casting Department
Tracey Deer	....	additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Martina Melendez	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Marc Brown	....	film output: digital intermediate
Yohance Brown	....	colorist
Inhan Cho	....	additional editor
Lisa Cohen	....	digital film producer
Paul D'Amico	....	assistant editor
John Eremic	....	on-line editor
Amy Foote	....	additional editor
Matthew Honovic	....	additional editor
Adam Hutchinson	....	additional editor
Thomas Lindsay	....	additional editor (as Tom Lindsay)
Ben Lombardo	....	additional editor
Bill Scott	....	senior color timer
Karen Lynn Weinberg	....	additional editor (as Karen Weinberg)
Peggy Anne Zack	....	additional editor (as Peggy Zack)
A.J. Del Cueto	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
The Calm	....	musicians: additional background music
Rachel Diabo	....	musician: additional background music
Robert Dick	....	musician: bass flute
Peter Golub	....	musician: keyboards
Marika Hughes	....	musician: cello
Shahzad Ismaily	....	musician: guitars and percussion (as Shahzad Ali Ismaily)
Keri Latimer	....	composer: additional music
Keri Latimer	....	musician: guitar and covals

Transportation Department
Mark Tourangeau	....	driver: generator truck

Other crew
Chris Angelosanto	....	production secretary
Chris Banke	....	dog wrangler
Craig Bankey	....	publicist: PMK/HBH
Austin Bourdeleau	....	assistant to director
Marlo Carroll	....	assistant location manager
Andrew Cesana	....	script supervisor
Whitney Cipkowski	....	child care
Kelly Conrad	....	publicity material: Oliver Russell Agency
Simon Conroy	....	chef
John Dempsey	....	ice technical advisor
Patrick Eaton	....	key production assistant
Latoya Gay	....	production assistant
Justin Halstead	....	production assistant
Donald Harwood	....	legal counsel (as Donald A. Harwood)
Eric Hora	....	production assistant
Jameson Job	....	dog wrangler
Chris Johnson	....	computer support
Gary Kauffman	....	legal counsel
Eric LaFranchi	....	production assistant: first team
Nicholas Mayper	....	medical advisor (as Dr. Nicholas Mayper)
Brendan Moore	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Robert Nevitt	....	production accountant
Rob Plonskier	....	production assistant
Pamela Preston	....	production accountant
Shamika Pryce	....	production coordinator
Desmond Racicot	....	police technical advisor
Toby Robin	....	publicity material: Oliver Russell Agency
Craig Shilowich	....	location manager
Russ Stoddard	....	publicity material: Oliver Russell Agency
Suzanne Trevellyan	....	website design: Trevellyan Graphic Design and Marketing
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer (uncredited)

Thanks
Megan Grogan	....	special thanks
Kurt Lustgarten	....	thanks
Louise O'Brien-Moran	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Cohen Media Group
• Harwood Hunt Productions
• Off Hollywood Pictures

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2008) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Archibald (2009) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Astaire (2010) (Japan) (theatrical)
• NonStop Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• PCV (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Rézo Films (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing Canada (2008) (Canada) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Lighthouse Home Entertainment (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• Movie Bank (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Orlando Films (2009) (Israel) (all media)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sandrews (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (Canada) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2009) (Argentina) (all media)

Special Effects

• Alpha Cine Motion Pictures Laboratory (tape to film transfer) (as Alpha Cine Labs)
• Leonardo Quiles Studios (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Premier PR  publicity (UK)
• Big Film Design  titles
• Courier Car Rental  vehicles
• Donna Daniels Public Relations  publicity
• Eastern Effects  lighting and grip equipment
• Gotham Sound and Communications  sound equipment provided by (as Gotham Sound)
• L.A. Studios, The  additional adr (as LA Studios)
• Liman Video Rental (LVR)  camera
• Media Services  payroll
• Offhollywood Digital  digital intermediate facility
• Oliver Russell Agency  publicity materials
• PMK / HBH  publicity
• Sound Lounge  sound post-production
• The Edit Center  additional editing
• Trevellyan Graphic Design and Marketing  website design

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some language

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Chinese | Urdu

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

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 | Argentina:13 | Japan:G | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company:

Cohen Media Group

Trivia:

Melissa Leo's character Ray Eddy's name is spoken one time throughout the film.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When the state trooper is checking out at Yankee Dollar, Ray tells him the total is $3.76. Over his shoulder is a sign on the wall that says that all items are $1.00. In and around Messina, sales tax is seven or eight percent. That would make the total either $3.21 or $3.32.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert: Episode dated 2 August 2008" (2008)

Courtney Hunt: Fresh Blood to Hollywood with an Independent spirit

Reminded me Ridley Scott's Thelma&Louise(1991), this film debut of director and writer Courtney Hunt delivers us a compulsory participation of the two opposite characters. Melissa Leo and Misty Upham perform two innocent and mature women driven into the crime world after desperation.

Frozen River carries a vital independent spirit that even though the value of contents of the film is so unassuming, it brings in both sentimental and intellectual prestige. Directing, editing and storytelling are so plain. Cinematography, lights and sound work, score are out-of-service. There is absolutely no cinematic aspect but the theme. Since it's an independent production we primarily come across to a thorough presentation of this theme. It has been worked up so effectively and is as plausible as a documentary.

A great commitment and well-created atmosphere by Courtney Hunt. All actors have done a good job. Might feel boring if not seen for personal view.