Winters Bone Review

Winters Bone Review 3 out of 4 stars

In the back of the Ozarks lives 17 year old Ree. She lives with her brainless mom and her two younger siblings. Her father his a drug-dealing loser who is off missing. She’s forced to grow up fast and become a woman when most girls her age don’t take out the garbage. Ree is acquainted one day with a officer who tells her that her daddy’s court date is a week away and that he has offered up there house as a collateral to pay his bail. Ree responds quickly and firmly “I’ll find him”.

Debra Granik’s “Winter’s Bone” is set up right in the middle of white trash country. Ree’s journey takes her from one failure to another hoping to find her delinquent father Jessup each offering little to no help at all. But Ree is not one to give up and that is what this story is all about. At its heart It’s about a girl who grew up with no parental guidance and turned into a tough, gritty, and relentless young woman. She handles this chore without much depression. We wonder how on earth she became so resilient but that is never answered.

Debra Granik does a superb job displaying the horrendous, ghastly, setting in this film. Every house is a dump with vile people filling them. Ree's neighbor is an exception. She shares food with Ree and even takes Ree's horse because she can no longer afford to feed it. Each individual Ree encounters is quick to turn away more worried with their own need; the danger of eviction and Jail. Each is unique in individuality with their own troubles and complications. Ree is offered a doobie, a line, and to blow some smoke. Teardrop, Jessup’s brother sniffs cocaine right in front of her. Teardrop and Ree drive by a meth cooking house that was burned to pieces. Ree is strong though and resents drugs and their terrible affects. Near the end of the film a acquaintance of Ree’s cuts off Jessup’s hands with a chainsaw in order to prove the law that he is indeed dead.

Ree is played by young Jennifer Lawrence. Jennifer who is up for a academy award is brilliant and is the star and soul of this film. Jennifer is strong willed, she makes no threats, but is a true hero. Not someone that kills all the villains and saves the world but a true real life hero. The supporting cast is great, teardrop who is up for best supporting actor is fierce as a true dope head. Although he doesn’t help Ree at first he saves her from difficult situations because he realizes she's the only family he's got left.

Winters bone is a dark and gritty film that may not be for everyone. It is a film of the true reality of the Ozarks. It’s a sad section of white poverty brilliantly portrayed with sensational acting. Although the plot was fairly simple it was moving and smart. Their wasn’t much violence but every step of the way was thrilling. A story like this could easily become dull with despair but Ree saves the day with her tremendous courage. Surrounded by criminals and delinquents, Ree is the diamond in the rough. In every bad situation there are always a few who overcome the rest.