Movie Reviews - Winter's Bone

Winter's Bone (2010)
Starring : Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes
Dir: Debra Granik
Writers: Debra Granik, Anne Rosellinni

It was a winner at the Sundance Film Festival, recieving the Grand Jury Prize and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award. It wasn't these awards that got me excited to see this film, rather it was that this film looked, far and away, better than 95% of the fare the entertainment industry has been spewing out so in 2010. I walked into the Winter's Bone expecting a fantastic film. What did I get? A reawakened love for noir dramas and questions a-plenty to keep me busy for days. This film, ladies and gentlemen, is the 2010 film messiah we have been waiting for.

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I haven't seen a teen noir drama since I last watched Brick (2005). Many people will comment on the similarity in atmosphere between the two films, possibly calling Winter's Bone the new Brick. I'm here to tell you that anyone who makes that comparison isn't aware of how magnificent a film Winter's Bone is.

The plot of the film, in as few words as possible, is as follows: 17 year old girl, Ree (Jennifer Lawrence), is taking care of her two younger siblings and her estranged mother in the Ozark woods of Misery....excuse me, Missouri. Her father is on the run from the law and should he not appear for his court date, the house Ree's family currently occupies will belong to the bank and the whole family will be thrown into the wilderness. Ree must locate her father and convince him to attend his trial or allow his family to suffer. As is common in quality noir features, the plot begins with a basic premise but ends up very differently than one would expect. To avoid spoilers, I will not delve into any further details.

It is highly unlikely that you will recognize any of the names billed in the credits for the film. One name I can almost guarantee you will never forget is John Hawkes. Hawkes plays the role of Ree's uncle, Teardrop. His performance is layered with varying levels of emotional intensity, all circulating around the common theme of loyalty. In the most simple of terms, his performance is as haunting as it is riveting. His performance may be the most powerful of the film's, but he hardly is *THE* stand out performer. The casting choices for everyone from Ree and her siblings to the army recruiter (an excellent, neutral portrayal I might add) are spot-on perfect. There were occasions wherein I was paying more attention to the no-line characters than to the leads.

Independent features do an excellent job at finding quality actors that are, for the most part, undiscovered. The sad thing about most indies is that the filmmaking elements falter. Winter's Bone is no such case. Every shot is perfectly constructed, every second perfectly timed. One could easily watch this movie without sound and follow the story with little difficulty. This is a prime example of how a film should be made.

My only gripe about this film is the occasional slow pacing. This is mal-component of the film is most evident at the beginning. Once the slow exposition is set in, the story starts rolling towards its cathartic resolution.

Strength, perseverance, and care can lead to a better future. Be the best human being you can and perhaps a helping hand will come your way. This is what I took away from Winter's Bone.

My final total: $36. It's definitely good enough to see a second time, or perhaps pay for a reluctant individual to see its worth. Beyond that, it warrants a purchase to watch in the comfort of your own home.