SnoopyStyle Evelyn (Julianne Moore) and Kelly Ryan (Woody Harrelson) struggle to survive raising ten kids. Evelyn spends all her energy entering every contest multiple times. Kelly is an abusive angry violent drunk. The better she does, the angrier he becomes. It's a chauvinist world where Evelyn has no options and no help from the authorities. Dortha Schaefer (Laura Dern) leads a group of fellow contest enthusiasts and soul mates.This is great at painting life in a certain era. Moore and Harrelson form an interesting pair. It's not a simple marriage that is all bad or all good. It's an extreme mix bag. Ellary Porterfield is a compelling Tuff. The light whimsical tone does not always fit and a less fluffy tone could deliver the tougher drama better.

noelani54 This film isn't about anything of Earth-shattering importance, except to the real-life family whose story it tells. In it are many fine examples of how a wonderful woman, and loving, long-suffering, wife and mother, made things happen for her family, raising 10 happy and successful children, in spite of serious trials. Not only that, but she manages to keep smiling and looking at the bright side, through all but the most difficult. It's acted very well, although I will say that I found Woody Harrelson, as the father, in a red wig, pulled it down, in a few spots. I don't think the problem was his performance, I just don't think he was especially suited to the role.Overall, this film is VERY well worth the time to watch it!

arcxv Well, it was fun to watch and enjoyable. However, told obviously from a very manipulated child's perspective. That poor man, I certainly hope all of his children do not resent and still believe what their Mother brainwashed them to think. The Mother even managed to blame their Father for her fear of driving! The abuse scenes do not have the ring of truth, I'd say because they never really happened and/or are being embellished by very myopic naive eyes. Here is a woman that marries the closest excuse for fame in her small town and spent the rest of her life resenting what she could have been and blaming her poor husband for her own shortcomings and anti-stardom. This man probably loved her dearly and when he was injured got a sudden cold shoulder that he was never able to warm as if it were his fault they would never be rich and famous. When he needed her, she turned her back and spent her life emasculating him and manipulating his kids against him. I'd wager that is closer to the truth, but if you like fairy tales, you will like this film. Julianne Moore and Woody Harrelson acting, always worth watching I do not care what the plot line.

ricbigi I watched THE PRIZEWINNER OF DEFIANCE, OHIO on DVD two nights ago and was deeply moved by it. Yesterday, as I had my sister (58) and my aunt (77) visiting for the day, I suggested that we watch it together and both of them were also very taken by the film. I think most people, and especially women who lived through the fifties and sixties, can relate to the story of this American family. The whole era is brought back to us in a very intelligent and accurate way, giving us images that are historically correct, often amusing and quite emotionally charged at times. The director must be praised for her masterful adaptation of the original novel and sensitive rendition of the screenplay in cinematic terms. Superb art direction and cinematography make meaningful contributions to the overall quality of the film. The cast is uniformly excellent even to the smallest parts. Woody Harrelson and Julianne Moore are nothing short of outstanding in their respective roles. This is a film that should find a wider audience, given the beauty of its message and its quiet, honest and highly effective emotional content.