Movie: "Winter's Bone" (2010)

[Bob Pr.]

"Winter's Bone" (2010), 100 min., [R rated for drug use, language, one scene with violence]. Winner of 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Rated 4 of 4 stars by Roger Ebert; of this date rated 8.2 of 10 stars by 1,000 IMDb voters; 95% favorable reviews says Rotten Tomatoes. It's a "country noir" thriller -- among other genres.

This is a film about life in the backwoods of the Missouri Ozark mountains, filmed on location and with local residents supplying many of the bit parts except for those of significant characters such as Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence), her uncle, Teardrop (John Hawkes), Merab (Dale Dickey), etc.

In this Ozark area, cooking meth has replaced moonshining as the popular way to make an illegal living. Ree's father, Jessup, was charged with this and then...has fled? -- disappeared. Ree is 16 years old and caring for her 12 year old brother and 6 year old sister as well as her catatonic mother. She depends mostly on the charity of neighbors for food, or from the squirrels she shoots, dresses, and cooks.

A sherriff shows up and gives her notice that her father faces a court appearance in 10 days, charged with cooking meth. To make his bond, he'd signed over the deed to their house and timber acreage as surety. If he doesn't appear in court on time, the family will lose their only security, their home. Ree says, "I'll find him," and the rest of the film deals with her meeting and overcoming most obstacles to find her father and save the family home.

She makes an odyssey among both near and distant relatives seeking her father. It's a very gripping journey and gives a view of that particular type of rural life and culture which, perhaps slightly broadly drawn, is fairly realistic in its picture of that wintry land, its people and its social factions and roles.

Some reviewers are already projecting "WB" as best picture of the year and/or Jennifer Lawrence as the Academy Award's best actress; her performance is that brilliant and gripping. The photography is great, the suspense thrilling. I was propelled through almost as if riding a roller coaster.

It was only after the movie was over and reflecting about it that I wondered why Missouri's social services network was never mentioned, made no appearance** -- and how in the world could Ree become such a strong, determined character given her father, mother, and circumstances? But just as I don't question Ulysses' escaping the cave of the one-eyed giant in The Odyssey, these omissions don't bother me. It's a great story, a wonderful film. I'll rate it 9 of 10 stars.

Definitely not a film everyone will enjoy -- BUT, for people who like this sort of film, they'll like it very much.
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** (IMDb's message board for "WB" -- IMDb :: Boards :: Winter's Bone (2010) -- answered my first question adequately: these people do not trust government and shun any help or services that might come with having to answer questions.)

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IMDb's info: Winter's Bone (2010)

Roger Ebert's review: Winter's Bone :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews

Salon's review: "Winter's Bone": American film of the year? - Andrew O'Hehir, Movie Critic - Salon.com

[Jan]

I saw this movie last week -- VERY powerful, and the actors were well cast. I wouldn't want to meet some of those ("hillybilly"?) women in the dark - they were hard, frightening (and, in their way, strong) women. The big scene (I won't spoil this for anyone who hasn't seen the movie) is so gripping and intense, I'm still thinking about it days later.