Barnes & Noble

Based on Terry Ryan’s acclaimed childhood memoir, this domestic drama stars Julianne Moore as the author’s mother, Evelyn Ryan. Ryan, an Ohio housewife who endures the periodic rages of her alcoholic husband, manages to raise ten children and find fulfillment by entering and winning corporate-sponsored contests in the 1950s and ‘60s. Keeping her large lower-middle-class family on an even keel isn’t easy, especially when underachieving husband Kelly (Woody Harrelson) gets drunk every night and flies off the handle whenever his favorite team loses a ball game. With relentless cheeriness and a detachment that borders on spooky, Evelyn manages the household while submitting an endless supply of slogans and jingles to ad agencies that award prizes on behalf of major sponsors. Her frequent wins enable Evelyn not only to have her own identity outside the marriage but also to provide financial security for the family -- which doesn’t sit well with her brooding, resentful spouse. Moore dominates every scene with her impeccable portrayal of a determined woman who chooses optimism and dignity over despair and shame. She’s played more than her fair share of unfulfilled homemakers, and Prize Winner provides this gifted performer with an admirable, even inspirational character. The film benefits from scripting that doesn’t rely on stereotypes and pat, predictable situations; Evelyn and Kelly are recognizable, multi-dimensional people, and portrayed by actors of Moore’s and Harrelson’s standing, they engage our interest far more than might normally be the case. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

The true story of one woman's effort to keep her family afloat under difficult circumstances comes to the screen in this bittersweet comedy drama. Evelyn Ryan (Julianne Moore) was a woman of intelligence, talent, and pluck living in the small town of Defiance, OH, in the 1950s. Evelyn was married to Kelly Ryan (Woody Harrelson), a man who gave her ten children but not much else; Kelly had a severe drinking problem, struggled to hold on to a job, and tended to spend his money as soon as he earned it. It was seemingly up to Evelyn to support the family, but with ten kids to look after, taking a job outside the home hardly seemed practical. But the resourceful Evelyn discovered a way to bring some extra money into the household -- at a time when a number of companies held contests to find new advertising jingles for their products, Evelyn had a genius for coming up with slogans and winning contests, and for the better part of a decade Evelyn kept food on the table and a roof over her head by dreaming up jingles, tag lines, and ad headlines and winning contests with her handiwork, often selling the merchandise she won to pay the bills. The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio was based on the best-selling memoir by Terry Ryan, who was the sixth of Evelyn Ryan's ten kids. Mark Deming

Product Details

• UPC: 678149196429
• Source: DREAMWORKS VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound
• Editions: Subtitled
• Time: 1:39:00

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