FilmEdge.net reviews 2010 Best Picture nominee WINTER'S BONE, now available on Blu-ray and DVD

FilmEdge reviews WINTER'S BONE

100 minutes

Rated R

Review by Joan Radell

5 Stars

There is an America which most of have never seen and never will see. It's a forgotten place, steeped in poverty, sweat, motor oil and bacon grease. It's hungry and cold. It's the sub-culture of methamphetamine manufacture in the Ozarks and Appalachians, and it's terrifying.

Winter's Bone is the film adaptation by Debra Granik of Daniel Woodrell's 2006 novel of the same title. The film explores drug culture, family loyalty and gender roles deep in the Ozark mountains through the eyes of 17-year old Ree Dolly. Ree has dropped out of school to care for her mother and two young siblings. Although she has assumed the role of head-of-household, she hopes to join the Army to escape the crushing poverty of southern Missouri. Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) is barely holding her family together. Her mother suffers from an unnamed and likely undiagnosed mental illness; she is mute and unresponsive. Her father, Jessup, is missing; he's running from the law and from the region's ruthless meth-manufacturers. Ree learns that Jessup has used the family home as collateral for his bond. If he does not appear in court, the Dolly family will be broke, and homeless. Caught between the law and her seemingly countless cousins who all know more than they are telling, Ree begins a desperate search for her father. If he cannot or will not save the family, she will. Her search puts her in grave danger, and her only resource is her unfailing devotion to her family. With minimal guidance from her uncle Teardrop (John Hawkes), and help from a few surprising allies, Ree must break a culture built on silence to find the truth, yet remain true to her heritage as well. It's a huge burden for a young girl to carry.

Director Granik realizes that WINTER'S BONE is a study in contrasts and uses contrast to great effect in the film. The Ozark setting is both beautiful and bleak, and is important to the story. Meth manufacturing labs require a remote setting — it's an incredibly stinky and dangerous process that's difficult to hide. As Ree walks the hollows from ramshackle house to ramshackle house, she is dwarfed by the majesty of the mountains around her as well as the enormity of her quest. But Granik contrasts this with brilliant close-ups when Ree is at home cooking, hanging wash on the line, or teaching her young charges to shoot squirrels. Ree is sweet and loving to her siblings and mother, but she's a hard-talking tough to the sheriff. She is a beautiful girl, transitioning to womanhood in hand-me-downs. Ree embodies gentleness as she combs her mother's hair, but matter-of-factly skins and guts a squirrel for the stew pot with sure hands.

Jennifer Lawrence as Ree Dolly in WINTER'S BONE, directed by Debra Granik
Photo Credit: Sebastian Mlynarski A story based on methamphetamine manufacture in the poorest regions of the nation is ripped right from the headlines, but do not look for any glamorization of this clandestine industry. The WINTER'S BONE storyline is heart wrenching, without a hint of sentimentality or judgement. Making and selling illegal drugs is simply a job to these hardscrabble folks who have little more than family and pride. The plot gives the viewer moments of bone-chilling horror, wire-tight suspense, and nearly overwhelming helplessness. The dialog is authentic and spare. This is film writing at its best. Of special note is the soundtrack, filled with the plaintive roots-music and bluegrass standards accented by new songs in those genres and featuring the vocals of Marideth Sisco.

The cast is led by Jennifer Lawrence in her breakout role. She is luminous on screen. Supporting performers of note are Dale Dickey as Merab, the tiny, formidable wife of the local drug-lord and figurative gatekeeper to a band of drug-making and dealing cousins, Sheryl Lee as Jessup's ex-girlfriend April, and Garrett Dillahunt as Sheriff Baskin.

In the slang of the Missouri Ozarks, a "bone" is a blessing — something good that has come from nothing. WINTER'S BONE has that feel, as though it has sprung organically from the rocky ground, grey-green and twisted, but soon offering a bloom that is spare and intensely scented. This is a film not to be missed. Five stars out of five.

Order 2010 Best Picture nominee WINTER'S BONE
starring Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes and Dale Dickey
now available from Amazon.com on Blu-Ray and DVD

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Visit the official WINTER'S BONE movie website

WINTER'S BONE is now available on Blu-Ray and DVD