In the 1950s, unlike today, it was next to impossible to win a contest. Why? Because they required the ability to write jingles for advertisements in twenty-five words or less -- like a seasoned professional. The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio is the story of how one woman defied these odds in order to house and feed her family of 10 children. 

Evelyn Ryan (Julianne Moore) uses her writing prowess to impress judges. Whenever her family needs something, be it milk money, a new washing machine, clothes or bikes, within a few hours cash or another prize shows up to save the day. 

None of this goes down well with Evelyn’s husband Kelly (Woody Harrelson). As the family patriarch, he feels responsible for bringing home the money. However, known for mood swings and wild drinking after work, he often squanders every last cent of his pay on booze. This always leaves the family inches away from homelessness. Even the milkman threatens to cut the Ryans off permanently after  giving them credit for such a long time. 

When Evelyn keeps winning expensive prizes, Kelly’s bitterness and feelings of inadequacy boil over into abusive tirades. He's upset that Evelyn never works, uses minding the kids as an excuse, and enters contests all day. But Evelyn hits Kelly back hard with the fact that if she were not entering contests, the family would have nothing.

One of the children, daughter Terry “Tuff” Ryan (Ellary Porterfield), is a tough 16-year-old. She hates her father for all the arguments he has with her mother and for never having money or caring about his children. She's disgusted when Evelyn falls down the stairs during a fight with him, then slashes her wrists and has to be taken to the hospital. In another fight Terry witnesses, it looks as though Kelly will strike his wife. The angry teenager tells her father she has no problem with killing him if he ever hits her mother. In a poignant scene between mother and daughter, the scars left by mental abuse can be easily detected.

The Ryan family soon learns that Kelly has made a huge mistake with their finances by taking out a second mortgage on the house. He doesn't have any money left to make the payments. What will become of Evelyn's family? Eviction looms as well as the possibility of the children being split up among relatives and friends in different states. With the odds against her, Evelyn must enter the "big one" --  a contest where a ton of money can be made but only if 200,000 other people lose.

Among its many highlights, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio features a stellar performance from Harrelson, who is cast against type, and a stand-out turn by Porterfield, who has a real shot at stardom following her excellent portrayal of Terry "Tuff" Ryan.

I believe The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio is a prize most audiences will enjoy.

(Released by DreamWorks/Revolution Studios and rated "PG-13" for thematic elements, some disturbing images and language.)