Winter's Bone review

"Winter's Bone" was a big hit at the Sundance film festival this year. So much of a hit that it took home the best picture prize. No easy feet. Based on the acclaimed novel of the same name, "Winter's Bone" is a backwoods noir story about a teenage girl taking care of her two young siblings and her ill mother while her father has disappeared. Things where they're at already seemed rather... rough from the opening shots of their home and surrounding woods and neighbors; but making matters worse is that her father has a court date to meet and cannot be found. He was released on bond and put up the house as collateral. So if he's a no show then they lose everything.

Thus Ree played by Jennifer Lawrence begins a dark and dangerous quest to track down her father and bring him back. Not so simple in a place where nobody wants to talk and everybody has got something to hide. Ree will go to the edge of death and deal with people would think little to nothing about silting her throat and tossing her in the woods. Lawrence is almost as terrific in this role as Ellen Paige was in "Juno". It's a character that could easily get bogged down into the pratfalls of type of indie suspenseful drama like this, but she never happens. In fact the mystery is dialed down a few notches as well so that we are mainly caring about this family that seems devoid of hope. I'll count that sadly though as something against "Winter's Bone". This is a ploy that works best when you really care about the kids and the family. Did I? Meh... yes and no. Personally my feelings towards tough for the sake of tough woods people aren't all that strong. But I did care somewhat due to seeing all the work that Ree had put in attempting to raise the children properly and care for her mother who seems to have lost her mind after dealing so much with the evils of her husband.

John Hawkes also delivers the a key and phenomenal performance in the film as Teardrop, Ree's uncle. He's surly, crass and about as rough around the edges as possible, but he cares. Personally I think both Lawrence and Hawkes could have Oscar nods and they would be very deserving. The other people we meet and locations we see are about as real and gritty as they get. De-contracted shacks and trailers out in the middle of nowhere with these fairly horrible fucking people inhabiting them. But it feels 100% real and probably because it was.

The finale of the picture for me is what does elevate it to the next level from being a slightly above average suspense drama, to something more is it nearly hitting on some carnal horror moments. Not simply in the traditional way, but in it's narrative as well which becomes slightly more down beat. I won't let you know what it all boils down to, but it's not particularly pleasant. I don't think "Winter's Bone" is the best thriller I've seen all year (much like my feelings on "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"), but it's worthy of much of it's acclaim and could have a stronger following down the line. Probably due to it's terrific performances.