Anything is possible with a little laughter and a lot of heart in this incredible true story of an extraordinary woman who raised 10 kids on 25 words or less. Academy Award® nominee Julianne Moore stars as Evelyn Ryan, a devoted housewife and mother, who uses her knack for words to win thousands of dollars in jingle contests to keep her family together. Also starring Academy Award® nominee Woody Harrelson, this witty and engaging comedy celebrates the power of a winning spirit.
Based on the true story of Evelyn Ryan, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio is one of those overlooked gems that deserves a long life on DVD. Splendidly adapted by writer-director Jane Anderson from the memoir by Terry Ryan (one of Evelyn's daughters), the film operates on several endearing levels: as a revealing study of the housewife's plight during the Eisenhower era, an inspiring tale of tenacity and survival against formidable odds, and a charming family drama that tempers sentimental nostalgia with the emotional toll of harsh reality. As always, Julianne Moore brings subtle perfection to her role as Evelyn, the cheerfully strong-willed mother of ten who compensates for the failings of her alcoholic husband (Woody Harrelson) by becoming the most successful "contester" in the country, entering cleverly-worded poems, jingles, and slogans in corporate sponsored contests throughout the mid-1950s and early '60s. Winning everything from palm trees and pogo-sticks to sports cars and cash, she holds the financially desperate family together with happy smiles and a rock-solid defiance of her husband's volatile temper. Directing her first feature after a respected career in television, Anderson employs some delightful visual effects to liven up the period kitsch (in some cases allowing Moore, as narrator and actor, to appear with herself in the same scene), but she never compromises the emotional core of the drama, which yields an unexpectedly powerful payoff when surviving members of the real-life Ryan family appear, as themselves, in the film's touching final scene. Like Evelyn, this movie's a winner. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Comment: One of the best movies I have ever seen - too bad it did not get the recognition it deserved. The end brought me to tears!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: An Unusually Moving Film
Comment: I cried through part of this movie and I am not much of a crier, least of all in a theater where someone might see me.

Moore kindled deep empathy and hope in me as I watched her radiantly portray a remarkable woman. Harrelson made me all but hate his character, and I am not a hater. Both leading characters gave outstanding performances.

Other factors converged to render this film a moving experience. It was based on a true life-on-the-edge story, which took place fairly close to where I grew up. Finally, the young children praying in the closet put me over the top.

Although the Christianity in this film was only touched on, to me the handwriting was on the wall: God is a merciful, faithful, and miraculous Provider.

This is one of the most inspirational films I have ever seen. Highly recommended.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT FILM WITH JULIANNE MOORE IN TOP FORM!
Comment: This is one of those love it or hate it films, it's certainly has a style all it's own. The nostalgic story of a mother of ten with an abusive alcoholic husband is sometimes funny, inspiring and sad. Julianne Moore gives a wonderful performance in the lead role with excellent support from Woody Harrelson. Never one dimensional, this little movie works on so many levels, it deserves a place in everyone's film library. Hopefully the price will drop on this little gem soon!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Heartwarming, nostalgic
Comment: "The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio" played one screen in my town, and I assume it played to mostly empty seats since no one, not the theater or Dreamworks, took out a single newspaper ad to promote its engagement.

That's a shame. This is an excellent, heartwarming film that positively glows with nostalgia for the tight-knit family life that defined the America of the 1950s. Julianne Moore, hands down my favorite contemporary actress, stars as a small town housewife married to an alcoholic who keeps a family of ten together and solvent by using her wits to write slogans for advertising campaigns in contest after contest. Of course, it's a true story from the pen of one of her daughters, Terry Ryan.

Jane Anderson, who also penned the screenplay, directs with a sure hand, bringing out the best in a superb cast.

"The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio" is a movie that deserves better than it got, and whose reputation is sure to grow through the years.

Brian W. Fairbanks

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A Determined Spirit
Comment: If you have every worried how to feed your family or how to make all the ends meet at the end of the month this is a movie for you.

Evelyn Ryan (Julianne Moore) must be resourceful with 10 children to feed and a less than useful husband (Woody Harrelson) - so what's a 1950's woman to do. Well, you enter contests and write jingles and with a bit of luck and a determined positive spirit things just might go your way.

This movie is based on the book written by her daughter Terry Ryan.

I really enjoyed this movie and the positive message that it sends.

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