Frozen River

Melissa Leo plays Ray, a tough (but obviously loving and competent) mother honestly trying to provide a better life for her family. But she's got a crappy job and a crappier husband conspiring against her. When her selfish husband runs off with the final payment on the family's new doublewide, Ray gets desperate and finds a new source of cash smuggling aliens over the dangerous frozen waterway between her upstate New York home and Canada.

The story was both brand new and recognizable -- I've seen hardscrabble desperation and mother-love, but the setting and situation were completely novel. Felt real and urgent without being either depressing or unbelievable.

This is a very good performance by Leo; she's my vote for the best actress Oscar this year.

A