Film Title
Winter’s Bone
Director
Debra Granik
Cast
- Jennifer Lawrence as Ree Dolly
- John Hawkes as Teardrop Dolly
- Lauren Sweetser as Gail
- Dale Dickey as Merab
- Garret Dillahunt as Sheriff Baskin
- Ashlee Thompson as Ashlee Dolly
- Isaiah Stone as Sonny Dolly
The Ozarks provide the setting for this gritty, dark and yet also hopeful indie drama. Featuring a star making performance from Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone is an effective slow-burning drama that leaves a longing impact on the viewer.
Ree Dolly is a wise beyond her years teenager living in a dilapidated shanty town of the Ozarks. She is basically a surrogate mother to her much younger siblings Ashlee and Sonny. On top of this she also cares for her mentally ill mother, who is nearly catatonic. She will do anything to make sure her siblings don’t go without, hence her skinning of squirrels for dinner and teaching her siblings the many arts of survival. One day, the local sheriff turns up with news about Ree’s estranged father Jessup. He has skipped bail on the charge of cooking meth and has also put the family’s house up for his bond. This means that if she doesn’t find her father within a week, the family will be made homeless and the house will end up being repossessed. Unafraid, Ree decides to find her father in the strange and brutal community in which she lives; a society seemingly bound by unwritten rules of secrecy and a penchant for meth usage and production. Breaking the local code of secrecy and silence, Ree hacks her way through danger, violence and brutality in order to discover the truth about her father, and above all protect her family and her home.
I first became aware of Winter’s Bone after I heard Jennifer Lawrence had been nominated for an Oscar for it. Intrigued by this, I watched the film to see what all the talk was about the new girl on the block. Well what can I say? Lawrence is just amazing as the strong, resourceful Ree who won’t back down in her quest for answers and will literally and physically do anything in her power for her family. Her performance isn’t full of typical Oscar moments such as breakdowns and explosive arguments. Instead, her performance is shaded with a quiet intensity and a mature toughness, and is all the better for it. It is simply a star making performance and one in which she really gets under the skin of the character.Ree’s second name maybe Dolly, but there is nothing sweet or submissive about this young girl, she is a tough, resilient fighter searching for the truth that remains elusive in a secretive and savage community.The supporting cast is equally strong, especially John Hawkes as Ree’s menacing,meth addicted uncle Teardrop who eventually helps her in his own unusual way.
Debra Granik’s second feature film is all the more effective for its lack of loud, explosive moments, instead focusing on a languid and quiet lead up to the eventual denouement and revelation that awaits Ree. This indie drama is a slow-burning one that captures the brutal and territorial landscape in which Ree resides and makes the audience really feel like they are in the Ozarks. Although bleak and downbeat at times, the film is strangely uplifting in its theme of searching for the truth and remaining brave in the face of hostility. A genuinely dark and haunting watch containing an outstanding cast, headed by the talented, young Lawrence, Winter’s Bone will make your blood turn cold but also warm your heart in its strange and subtle way.
dirkmalcolm said:
You absolutely right – this is a wonderfully chilling film that really gets under your skin.
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vinnieh said:
I totally agree with you.
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fernandorafael said:
Great review. This was one creepy movie. Lawrence was great but her best performance remains the one she gave in Guillermo Arriaga’s The Burning Plain, IMHO.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, I haven’t seen the Burning Plain but will give it a watch to see what I think.
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fernandorafael said:
Tag, you’re it! http://fernandorafael.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/childrens-games-for-the-digital-age/
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Tysoncarter said:
Nice write up buddy!
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for your comment man.
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silencestressed said:
Glad you liked it!
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vinnieh said:
Thanks I’m glad I watched it.
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Chip said:
Good review. I had first seen Lawrence in The Burning Plain and she made me take notice. I didn’t watch Winter’s Bone until it got nominated for Best PIcture, though. Initially it wasn’t one of my favorites among the nominees, but I discovered that months later I would still be mulling over parts of it.
John Hawkes also deserves some kudos for his performance in this film.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the comment, I need to see the Burning Plain.
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Mark Walker said:
Good review Vinnie. I liked this film but I also thought the critics raved a little too highly on it. I went into it expecting bigger things but left it slightly disappointed. Still, it’s a good film.
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CMrok93 said:
Nice review Vinnie. It may have been a tad too slow at times for me to appreciate, but the cast is great and definitely the main reason to see this flick.
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ckckred said:
I nominated you for the Tag Blogathon. Check my blog for details.
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Mr Rumsey said:
Great review, I hadn’t heard anything about this until today and now it’s on my watchlist – thanks 🙂
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, hope you get round to seeing it.
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threesentencecritic said:
Nice review – been on my list of films to see for a wee while… Going to have to check this one out sooner rather than later.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, hope you enjoy it.
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jeffro517 said:
I really love this movie. It’s been a while since I watched it, but now I’m headed back to the archives to check it out again.
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Lights Camera Reaction said:
Saw this quite recently. A terrific film with great performances. Awesome review!
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for your positive comments.
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Natalie Stendall said:
Another one that I missed but you’ve definitely made me add to my must see list with this great review.
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sati said:
Great review! Lawrence was great in this one indeed, but for me it was Hawkes who completely stole the show, same with Martha Marcy May Marlene.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, yeah I thought Hawkes was great in this.
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themovieuniverse said:
I think Winter’s Bone had a very gritty sense of realism and I completely agree with it being somewhat heart warming. A little slow at times, I thought, but I have to say it is one of the best acting performances from the cast as a whole that I have seen in the past few years! I will admit I am biased when it comes to Jennifer Lawrence because well… it’s Jennifer Lawrence, but I did think that Winter’s Bone is a brilliant example of her work.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for your comment, I really liked the main performances in this one.
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literaryvittles said:
Great review of a great movie. I can see why it wasn’t popular because yes, I suppose at times it was slow, though strangely that has never bothered me in film. I enjoyed it mostly because of the setting, which is very unusual and somewhat risky for a Hollywood movie. Stories like this don’t often get told, I think.
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vinnieh said:
Thank you very much for the comment, yeah the setting was pitch perfect for the story.
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beetleypete said:
I liked this one. Even though I watched it on TV, the setting and atmosphere came over very well. Something different, for a change.
Best wishes, Pete.
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vinnieh said:
I loved the atmosphere in this. And it wasn’t one of those cookie cutter movies when you know what’s gonna happen in the end.
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Purpleanais said:
Loved this film, not the easiest to watch but well worth it.
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vinnieh said:
Definitely worth it. It has been too long since my last viewing. Better break out that DVD again.
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