The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2006, DVD)

I don't recall seeing this movie as a trailer when it was first released. I just happened to catch it on Cinemax or HBO one day and fell in love with it. A great flick if you like movies that are based on true stories. Julianne Moore fans should love this one!

I rented this DVD and wanted it for our library of movies because we lived in the Defiance, Ohio area for 20 years and can relate to some things mentioned int the movie.

I so love this movie, it reminds me of my own Mother, and the struggles she went though. The Mother in the movie is funny, and she see's things through, "rose colored glasses.." even though she is struggling to raise her family. WONDERFUL!

One of my favorite books...I discovered by chance that it had been made into a movie. It was not ever shown here where I live (Mexico City) and when I saw it on Ebay, I jumped at the chance..it was a used copy but in excellent shape. I loved it!

This is a very endearing story about a woman who provided for her family in an uncertain situation. I typically don't enjoy the touching-type movies, but this one is very well done and very different. It's a great story and a great movie.

I loved this movie, I have reccomended to everybody, Julianne, was made for this part, she is beautiful. I have watched this 4 times.

I read Terry Ryan's book shortly after it was published. I then went online to find out everything, including pictures of her mother. What she endured was something my own mother went through - she found her voice, my mother lost her's. I can't see this movie enough because it inspires me. If you read the book the near poverty conditions that the Ryan family lived in, and to think that each and every child pulled themselves up, went to university and became professionals. What they learned was "the choices we make, define our destiny." Sometimes their father never understood.

Please buy this movie, it is inspiring for everyone and think of Terry Ryan who is now deceased - what a loving, touching legacy she left for us all.

Sandiem50

I had never heard of this movie but it was quite the find. A true story about a woman who helps support her family with prize winnings. It had drama and a little comedy. Mostly it was a story of triumph. I liked it alot.

I have been looking for this movie for several years. I saw it some time ago and wanted to show it to my family. No video store seemed to have it, so I thought of E Bay and sure enough, there it was. I couldn't have rented for less than I was able to buy it. We have watched it three times in the last two weeks, it's a feel good movie, and E Bay makes me feel good!

This is a great family movie that completely illustrates how difficult life was in the fifties. This woman kept her family afloat by entering contests and winning prizes. She was a true inspiration to any woman who has endured living with a spouse that drank too much. The whole movie leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling. The movie might be a little too intense for younger children though as there is some domestic violence involved. The acting is superb and who would have thought Woody Harrelson would portray Kelly so well. The daughter that wrote the book, recently passed away and this movie is just proof that sometimes good things do come from dysfunctional families.

I first read the book and then found out it had been made into a movie. I allowed our children to watch the film with us and it was tastefully done, though included some objectionable language, but it portrays REAL life. The lead character sets such a good example with her always-good attitude!

Great movie. True story and one I can relate to. I love entering sweepstakes too and know how she feels whenever a nice prize arrives. I highly recommend this movie to anyone thinking about buying it.

Very nostalgic movie. Growing up in the 50s and 60s, I could relate to a lot of the scenes, i.e., the milkman, large Catholic family, etc. One of my daughters has watched this movie at least 10 times (rented it). So I thought she would like her own copy for her birthday. I am not a fan of Woody Harrelson, but thought he did a good job in his portrayal of the husband. And Julianne Moore was fantastic.

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio stars Julianne Moore and Woody Harrelson and is based on a true story and book, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids in 25 Words or Less, which describes the focus of the movie.

The film is sentimental and aims to pull at the heartstrings, not enough so to make you weep or anything, but it is cute and enjoyable none the less.
Moore is good in anything that she plays in.

Harrelson plays an hopless 50's dad an husband, but an destructive character, but yet it is an true story written by there daughter Tuff.

the best part I like in the movie when Moore throw jello on woody "Death by Jello" that was halarious.

The most drama part is when Moore fell with all the milk she just got from the milk man, beening woody fault she fell, but of course you will have to watch the movie to see what I am talking about, at that point in the movie I want to get up an slap him or give him an slug...

You just have to watch the movie to understand the charcters.

A great story of the power of preserverance and strength, reaching way down into your soul when you think you have nothing left and pulling up a handful of hope right by your very tippy toe. A must see for all that have ever been down on their luck and struggling to gain a little foothold.

This is one of the best movies that I have seen in awhile. It's just so different from anything that is out there right now.

It's about a mother, Evelyn Ryan, who is struggling to raise 10 children while dealing with her alcoholic husband Kelly. Kelly works at the local factory, but drinks all the money away with his alcohol problem. Evelyn tries her luck writing some jingles for contests. She is successful, she has a knack for writing catchy jingles. She manages to help her family out of financial problems with the prizes she wins. Kelly has a problem with his wife being the main breadwinner for the family, and his violent alcoholic outbursts become much worse, and puts enormous strain on their relationship. Even through all the hard times Evelyn is still determined to put her family first, and give them the best she can. It's based on a true story.

It stars: Julianne Moore, Laura Dern, and Woody Harrelson.

This is a movie you don't want to miss!

I'd listened to the abridged version of "The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio" on audiobook last year and was eager to see the film. It didn't disappoint and it fleshed out the whole true biography more.

Evelyn Ryan (Julianne Moore) becomes very resourceful in supporting her large family in the 1950s. Her husband (Woody Harrelson) is an alcoholic and makes meager wages, but Mom writes jingle after jingle in the hey-day of jingle-writing to win money, cars, food, a freezer, whatever her family needs or can sell for fast and much needed cash.

It's a well done little film and had the added treat of showing the real Evelyn Ryan's children -- now AARP-eligible! -- in the last scenes as they reminisce about their Mom.

The director used an interesting technique for enriching the story by having the Evelyn Ryan character weave throughout story as somewhat of a spectator/narrator.

I was only about 30 minutes into the movie and loved it! I knew it would be a keeper. Julianne Moore plays well the part of a housewife who overcomes hardships in the 1950s to raise her family. The movie is well done with lots of nostalgia from the era included. It is strikingly close to the book and portrays each character in the movie almost as well as the memoir. Excellent!!

This is a movie based on the national best seller book (of the same name) by Terry Ryan. The true story recounts how the mother (played by Julianne Moore) manages to supplement the meager income of her family of 10 children by writing contest jingles during the 1950s and 1960s. The alcoholic father (played by Woody Harrelson) is grateful at one level to his wife for the financial help, but is also angry and chagrined that he can not provide for his family adequately. Scenes are realistic and nostalgic for movie watchers who were children during that time frame. Although not heavily advertised nor promoted as some movies are, it is definitely worth seeing and owning to me. I wanted a copy of my own so that I could wax nostalgic wherever I wish!

Movie styled just like the fifties/sixties in that bad things (Dad's behavior) not talked about, and certainly accepted and Mom as a Leave It To Beaver Mom wannabe. Of course, I am a pushover for based on true life stories; they are always more meaningful to me, but who can argue with the oscar deserving performances of the great actors in this film, Julianne Moore and Woody Harrelson; great light comedic movie, maybe not a family movie because of Dad's drinking, but close. I had to own it so I could see it again; always an indicator of a good movie to me. I have seen good movies that I only wanted to see once, but a really good movie is one that bears watching over and over.

Great movie, our granddaughter did a voice over in this movie of one of the little girls. That's why we bought it, but we enjoyed it also, very good movie.