Deep-seated suspicions and clan hostilities run deep in Debra Granik's backwoods Ozark country tale "Winter's Bone." Taken from the novel by Daniel Woodrell, the story involves the odyssey of seventeen-year-old Ree Dolly (a great Jennifer Lawrence) who is desperate to find her wayward Meth-addicted father. He's due in court in less than a week and he's already jumped his bail after putting his ramshackle house up as bond. If he doesn't turn up, dead or alive, the family will be thrown out into the fields. To make matters worse, Ree's mother is nearly catatonic and the teenager has to tend to her two younger siblings or else they'll starve. Adding to her dilemma is the fact that her father recently attained notoriety among his clan members as a snitch to the local police. They'd just as soon prefer to see him dead as to give out any information regarding his whereabouts. It doesn't take Ree long to find out that she's up against a proverbial stone wall and that her own life could be in danger just for asking a simple question. Her father's younger brother called Teardrop (John Hawkes) eventually decides to aid her search, but he seems more bent on revenge than anything else. And he obviously knows a lot more about Ree's father's fate than he's letting on. "Winter's Bone" examines an area of economic plight and downright poverty that hasn't been seen in an American film in years. The picturesque Ozark Mountain scenery is abandoned for a bird's eye view of blown-out Methamphetamine labs, seedy bars, and dilapidated homes. Ree's sole purpose is to provide for her family, even if that means taking a vicious beating for asking the wrong questions at the wrong time. Her quest to find her dear old dad takes quite a few tragic detours; but what doesn't kill this young heroine makes her that much stronger.
The fine cast includes Garret Dillahunt as the local sheriff who's more interested in Uncle Teardrop's violent activities than cracking down on illegal Meth labs. Their face-off duel near the end of the film is one of the highlights and a pivotal scene. Dale Dickey, looking like an Ozark version of Madame DeFarge, is the menacing Merab. Her grim-reaper face is enough to scare away any stray animal or traveling salesperson. Lauren Sweetser (Gail) provides some comforting moments for Ree, but they're too few to make much of a difference in her tragic search for the truth. Like everyone else in this neck of the woods, Gail has her own problems to contend with. Anne Rosellini co-wrote the adapted screenplay with director Granik and they're sure to win at least a few nominations when the awards season rolls around. "Winter's Bone" is one of the best movies of the year and certainly the most original one by a country mile.
The fine cast includes Garret Dillahunt as the local sheriff who's more interested in Uncle Teardrop's violent activities than cracking down on illegal Meth labs. Their face-off duel near the end of the film is one of the highlights and a pivotal scene. Dale Dickey, looking like an Ozark version of Madame DeFarge, is the menacing Merab. Her grim-reaper face is enough to scare away any stray animal or traveling salesperson. Lauren Sweetser (Gail) provides some comforting moments for Ree, but they're too few to make much of a difference in her tragic search for the truth. Like everyone else in this neck of the woods, Gail has her own problems to contend with. Anne Rosellini co-wrote the adapted screenplay with director Granik and they're sure to win at least a few nominations when the awards season rolls around. "Winter's Bone" is one of the best movies of the year and certainly the most original one by a country mile.