The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio

The adult Terry Ryan remembered her extraordinary mom by writing a book, "The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio. The result, but for the talent of Moore, is a routine made-for-TV type of tale that is supposed to be inspirational. ... Full Review

It's not a bad performance from Harrelson, but it feels more like a caricature portrayal than a well-rounded persona. A quality set of young actors fill in the children's roles well, and even the real-life Ryan kids make an appearance in the movie's end, which brings us up to speed on what happened to the family after the main events of the story depicted in the film. ... Full Review

The Prizewinner of Defiance, Ohio is a simply a pretty good movie that should have been great. It is here that the movie suffers it greatest failing. ... Full Review

While Moore is thoroughly winning as Evelyn Ryan, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio ultimately rates no more than an honorable mention. However, since there's never any serious doubt that Evelyn will prevail, the film lacks emotional gravity. ... Full Review

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio" is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). In a deft insertion, the movie slyly alludes to that vintage daytime game show "Queen for a Day," which simultaneously enshrined and humiliated its desperately needy contestants. ... Full Review

The 1950s and early1960s marked the beginning of the age of consumerism in America.Many companies began to capitalize on the economic boom that followed WWII by developing elaborate marketing and advertising campaigns to hock their products. ... Full Article

One of the season's best pictures, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio ought to be seen by anyone either struggling through, or bracing for, hard times. ... Full Article

"The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio," adapted from a memoir by Terry Ryan, tells the true story of the author's mother, Evelyn, who reared 10 children through a domestic nightmare. ... Full Article

Evelyn Ryan (Julianne Moore) is a devoted housewife and mother of ten in the 1950s. Her husband (Woody Harrelson) cant seem to make ends meet, but that doesnt stop the car from breaking down, the mortgage coming due and the ... Full Article

I'm not a saint", says Evelyn Ryan (Julianne Moore), the 1950s housewife with a line and a solution for every problem that arises in her extremely large family, replete with a drunkard loser husband (Woody Harrelson) and her 10 children. ... Full Article