Review of Winter's Bone (2010) by Thomas P — 04 Oct 2012

Ree Dolly lives with her two younger siblings, and her depressed mother in a small town country home. When her drug dealing father goes missing, a Sherrif tells Ree that her father put up their house as a collateral for his bail.

Unless he can show up to trial in a week's time, the house will be gone. Now Ree must trace him, in an attempt to save her family. The story moves along like a western detective story. It's dark and depressing, but yet interesting.

Ever watched two people play a game of checkers? Well this is how the story moves along, like watching a game of checkers. Each team must find a way to outwit their opposite player, in a result to win them over.

And in this case, this game of checkers lasts for 100 minutes. At times it moves slowly, and almost to the ground, but then it reaches back up again to more interesting concepts, and therefore keeps its audience.

Ree Dolly is played by Jennifer Lawrence, who gives a groundbreaking performance. She's just like the film itself, at times she seems to be both tired and dim, but once the film holds more interest so does she.

She knows exactly what the relationship is between her and the film itself, most actresses cannot do this. Now the film is filled with country men, and country women. Thankfully, there is no racism among them.

You won't hear the words "YEE-HALL little doggy!" being shouted, or anything of that sort. Instead these country folks are smart, brave, and hopeful. This is a great film in which proves that woman can be strong, western people are no different from anyone else, and that life can have its happy endings even when things are disguised with doubt.