Winter's Bone

Newcomer Jennifer Lawrence stars in this noir indie drama set deep in the Ozarks.  Lawrence plays Ree Dolly, a mature beyond-her-years teenager who takes care of her two younger siblings and mentally-ill mother.  When her meth-cooker father skips bail, Ree's family home is on the line.  Now it's up to her and her alone to either find her deadbeat dad or prove to the authorites that he's been killed so she can keep a roof over her family's head.  But how far will she go before she is risking her own life to protect those of her loved ones?  Director Debra Granik creates a stark, harsh landscape to intricately weave her tale.  The imagery is so gray and desolate that it seems post-apocalyptic.  It's amazing to watch this story unfold partly because it's astonishing to see that there are people living in such extreme poverty right here in the U.S., not in some remote African village or war-torn Eastern European city.  Lawrence is riveting to watch; she portrays Ree with such emotional depth and resolve that you almost forget you're watching a fictional character and not someone in a documentary.  The pace of the film is steady and methodical, which only adds to the tension that builds as Ree searches for her missing father.  The gripping drama is a true testament to the excellent screenwriting since there are no thrilling car chases or fight scenes to rely on, just some good old-fashioned storytelling.  "Winter's Bone" is that rare gem of a film - a quiet, thoughtful thriller that doesn't prematurely boil over, but instead comes to a slow and satisfying simmer.


4 out of 5 stars