The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005)

In order to support her ten children, Evelyn Ryan enters a commercial jingle-writing contest.

Director:

Jane Anderson

Writers:

Terry Ryan (book), Jane Anderson (screenplay)

Stars:

Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson, Laura Dern

1 win & 1 nomination.

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

Storyline

Kelly and Evelyn Ryan live in Defiance, Ohio with their 10 children. At first glance their life seems idyllic; they call each other "Mother" and "Father" and seem to dote on the kids. But Kelly was a garage-band crooner whose voice was ruined in an auto accident. He's resigned to a dead-end factory job that barely pays the bills, and is given to fits of alcohol-induced rage. Evelyn, a stay-at-home wife and mother, deals with this abuse by appealing to her priest, who is no help at all. She deals with their poverty by entering the jingle contests that were the rage in the 50's and early 60's, even sending in multiple entries in the names of the children. She is very clever at it, winning more than her share of prizes, but her successes aren't enough to keep the wolf from the door. Further, they trigger Kelly's insecurities and he retreats deeper into the bottle, using food and mortgage money to support the habit. Can the loving, optimistic Evelyn hold the family together? Is she ...

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Plot Keywords:

freaking out | gasoline station | dysfunctional marriage | man wears eyeglasses | watching tv | 

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Taglines:

The true story of how a mother raised ten kids on twenty-five words or less.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some disturbing images and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Outside scenes were all shot in Canada. Interior scenes were all shot on a soundstage.

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Goofs

Ray the mail man is severely under dressed for that era, with short-sleeved shirt; he should have been similarly dressed like the milk man: jacket, tie, a hat very much like his.

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Quotes

Detective Feeney: If you were stranded on an island and could take only one beverage with you, which beverage would you take?
Evelyn Ryan: Orange juice.
Detective Feeney: Orange juice?
Evelyn Ryan: Yes, orange juice... to prevent scurvy.
[pauses]
Evelyn Ryan: But my beverage of choice is Dr. Pepper.
Detective Feeney: [laughs]

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Crazy Credits

Before the ending credits roll, updates are given of all the children and of Ms. Schaefer along with their real life photos.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Into the Blue/Serenity/The Greatest Game Ever Played/Mirrormask/Capote/The Prizewinner of Defiance, Ohio (2005)

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Soundtracks

Frisk the Frigidaire
Written by Brian Kirk and Evelyn Ryan
Performed by The Jarre Sisters

User Reviews

The 2 hours just ZIPPED by

I went into a screening of this film cold. I didn't know anything about it except that it starred Julianne Moore. I walked by a poster of the film on the way into the theater and was horrified, thinking it was going to be a chick flick.

Well, folks. When I go into a theater and I can't take my eyes off the screen and the movie goes by without me ever even checking my watch, I know I've seen a good movie.

Moore plays a woman with 10 children. Although her husband works as a machinist, she basically provides for the family by winning all sorts of contests for all kinds of big prizes, including big cash prizes. The woman is a master of winning these things. It's the one thing that's keeping her family together. She's definitely the hero and the one person everyone looks up to. Definitely an inspiration. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll stop at that, but I will say that Moore does a great job with her role.

Moore's husband in the movie, played by Woody Harrelson with emotional conviction and healthy dose of humanity, has a drinking problem and is a big source of tension inside the household. To the movie's credit, it doesn't paint the father as the typical one-note, evil, hateful,abusive, drunken father. There's a real character in there who loves his wife and kids and the movie does its best to portray him as fairly as possible despite his drinking problem and fits of rage.

The movie does bring out strong emotions from its audience, not quite a tear-jerker but close. It's not the sort of movie I would watch again and again because it's not my type of film, but I was glad for having seen it.

There's good acting, good pacing, a good story and possibly most important of all, it is told in an entertaining, gripping fashion. I wouldn't be surprised to find out if there is an Academy Award nomination in store for Julianne Moore and Woody Harrelson.

At the end of the movie, there was a nice round of applause from the audience. I told one lady, "Wow, the two hours just went..." and I snapped my fingers. She said, "It just zipped by." I also heard several different people talking as I left the theater, "Did you like it?" "Yeah, it was great."

Go see it.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 June 2007 (Spain)

Also Known As:

La ganadora

Filming Locations:

Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$159,056, 2 October 2005

Gross USA:

$627,844

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$750,212

Company Credits

Production Co:

Revolution Erie Productions Ltd., ImageMovers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1