Winter's Bone (2010)
Directed by Deborah Granik
Written by Deborah Granik, Anne Rosselini
Starring Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Dale Dickey, Garret Dillahunt, Sheryl Lee, Tate Taylor
Release Date June 11th, 2010
Published July 4th, 2010
In the meth soaked outer reaches of the Ozarks, where cable TV and cell phones are out of reach, there lives a culture that remembers the Hatfields and McCoys not as cartoon caricatures but as blood relatives. Blood has mixed beyond where it likely ever should have in this area creating some uncomfortable familial bonds but the barriers that exist between families are still deeply protected and immersed in this conflict through birth is Ree (Jennifer Lawrence).
Ree Dolly has spent most of her 17 years trying to ignore the drug addled world around her. Ree lives day to day struggling to survive in a world without money or the comforts that money can bring. She lives by charity and wit; the gifts of a loving neighbor are accepted not with bruised pride but with a grateful resignation while when charity is not forthcoming hunting squirrels is a proper alternative.
This could be Ree's life for good until she meets the right meth cooking dealer and settles into her own life of addiction and solitude. No time to think about the future however as Ree has problems in the present. Her meth dealing dad has put their house on the line to get out of jail and has now gone missing. The law informs Ree that if dad does not show up for court the house will be taken away as collateral for his bond.
Now it's up to Ree to search the deep black heart of the Ozarks forest for her missing father all the while overturning stones that many don't want turned over. What begins as an impoverished character study evolves into an odd detective story where an amateur gumshoe stumbles into trouble investigating a crime that no one wants to see solved but them.
“Winter's Bone” holds a good deal of fascination throughout its 100 minute run time. Star Jennifer Lawrence gives Ree a hard won determination that captures the audience and holds it enthralled and in support John Hawkes delivers a character with born to lose tattooed on his very soul. Hawkes plays Ree's meth addicted uncle Teardrop and brings such an authenticity to this raw souled wretch that you feel his every appearance on screen like sandpaper on your skin.
Writer-director Deborah Granik captures these performances beautifully and matches the stark portrayals to her stark visual style in a marriage of overwhelming ugly truth. The muted colors match the muted wants of the characters in its desolation. Ree’s motivation is simple and straightforward, she just wants to not be homeless, as are the motivations of the people preventing her from what she seeks.
The background, the decaying trees and icy, windblown exteriors of home and pick-up truck alike match the lives of these characters in both their simplicity and minimalism. These characters aren’t going anywhere and are resigned to that fact but Ree at least will make the most of what little she has. Ree’s sad existence beyond this pseudo-detective story is communicated in devastating fashion by the barren surroundings. This will likely be the only important thing Ree ever does and the downcast settings underline that fact and give the film an all encompassing melancholy.
Yes, “Winter’s Bone” is as bleak as my description but that does not prevent it from being a gripping story told with exquisite skill and determination. Jennifer Lawrence is a revelation while John Hawkes has been an actor on the edge of a breakthrough as a character actor guaranteed to one day win Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars. This might just be his year and indeed Ms. Lawrence’s as well.
