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June 29, 2006
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
If you want a depressing film, or a film that feels so real it hurts, stay far away from this flick. On the other hand, if you like great performances alongside some frustrating cliches (why, when there are a lot of children involved are they only rarely called by name?!?), then this is the movie for you.
Unfortunately, my copy from Netflix was scratched badly in two places, but I believe I saw most of the film. (Nevertheless, I liked it enough to order a better copy to be delivered ASAP for a second viewing.)
Many reviewers, especially of the male persuasion, found this to be a treacly chick flick that barely rose to made-for-tv quality. On the other hand, less cynical Y-chromosome possessing critics and plenty of women found it endearing. Yes, there are things I'd love to know about this family and especially this mother that weren't fully explained in the movie. But when you consider that it is based on the memoir of a child, it fits perfectly: there's no way to know the extremely inner feelings of the protagonist; but enough of her life theory is explained to understand why she stayed with her alcoholic, (verbally, financially) abusive husband. And Woody Harrelson is always good at realistically playing extremely flawed men.
tPWoDO is a first rate look at the extraordinary perseverance of one Midwest housewife in the 50s and 60s. It is well worth 1.5 hrs.
Rotten Tomatoes listing
Ebert's review / plot explanation
Posted by cj at June 29, 2006 11:40 PM