Review of Winter's Bone (2010) by Stuart K — 16 Apr 2013
Written and directed by Debra Granik, (Down to the Bone (2004)), and adapted from Daniel Woodrell's 2006 novel of the same name. It's a very sparse and chilling drama set in a rural, almost backwards part of America.
It has a brilliant lead performance from a terrific young actress and if there's such a thing as an American kitchen sink drama, then Winter's Bone is it, it's grim and dirty, but very compelling to watch.
In the Ozark Mountain region of Missouri, 17 year old Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence), looks after her mentally ill mother (Dale Dickey), her 12 year old brother Sonny (Isaiah Stone) and 6 year old sister Ashlee (Ashlee Thompson).
Ree's father Jessup has been missing for a number of weeks, and is currently out on bail for cooking meths and Sheriff Baskin (Garret Dillahunt), tells Ree if he doesn't come forward, Ree and her family will lose their house, as it was put up as collateral for the bail.
Ree is determined to find her father, and calls upon uncle Teardrop (John Hawkes) to help, who is reluctant, and it takes her to local crime boss Thump Milton (Ronnie Hall), but Ree is warned off with force, but she won't give in.
Made for a meagre $2 million, and using real people in some scenes, this is a taut and gloomy drama with some brilliant performances throughout, Lawrence is terrific, and it was a sign of things to come from her, you don't get enough American films like this.
This review of Winter's Bone (2010) was written by Stuart K on 16 Apr 2013.
Winter's Bone has generally received very positive reviews.
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