Winter's Bone

Ree Dolly (played by promising young newcomer Jennifer Lawrence) is one of the most fascinating heroines I've come across in the movies in a while. She has no real special gifts or super powers. She just has a clear head, a sharp instinct, and the knowledge to survive. It's easy to admire her, because she is so no nonsense and simple to relate to. She's tough in the face of adversity, and in Winter's Bone, she gets to show it more than once.

Ree is a 17-year-old girl living in the rural Ozark area, which is beautifully shot, and gives the film itself amazing atmosphere and a sense of isolation. She lives with her family, and pretty much runs the entire household, since her mother is pretty much in a near catatonic state, and her father left a long time ago. She raises her two much younger siblings the best she can, teaching them how to cook and fend for themselves, and always reminding them to "never ask for something that should be offered". Ree has made a lot of sacrifices for a girl her age. She has no real dreams or ambitions that don't involve the safety of her family. She does hope to join the Army someday, but only for the $40,000 pay they offer that would help her struggling home. For now, she gets by through donations from sympathetic neighbors, and her own sense of preservation.

Ree has mostly tried to forget her deadbeat father, but it's hard to move on when the police are constantly stopping by, reminding her of his recent problems with the law. He has a long history of making and dealing meth, and when he was recently arrested, he made bail by putting his family home up for collateral. Since getting out of prison, he's been on the run, and never showed up for a court appearance. If he is not found soon, Ree and her family will be forced out of their home. Ree is forced to go on a search for a man she wants nothing to do with. The problem is, no one is willing to talk, or warns her not to stick her nose in his business. Even her dad's brother, Teardrop (John Hawkes), turns her away when she initially comes to him for help. Everywhere she goes, she's met with silence, or hostile people who want nothing to do with her. As she starts to get closer, she begins to find her life in danger.

Winter's Bone is a thriller, but not in a traditional sense. It doesn't so much build dread, rather it moves at a very casual pace, so that when there is an act of violence or danger, it is all the more shocking. The screenplay (based on a novel by Daniel Woodrell) uses its backwoods Missouri setting to the fullest. It's a very simple, laid back, and old fashioned setting. The movie almost has the feel of a Great Depression story set in the modern day. There is no modern technology on display. The neighbors have an old fashioned relationship, where everyone knows everyone else's business. In a way, the setting increases the danger for young Ree. There's no way for her to contact help via a cell phone when she begins to find herself in over her head. She has to rely solely on herself, and her own survival instincts. She's handy with a hunting rifle, but she is not exactly an empowered young woman. She is smart, and she is cool and calm under pressure, but we never get the sense that she is safe, which gives the movie a sense of uncertainty that runs all throughout.

If anything, it's a star-making performance by young Jennifer Lawrence. Known mainly for work in television up until now, she has a completely absorbing screen presence here. We are drawn to her the second she comes on camera, and she never once loses our attention. This is difficult, considering that she mainly plays the role low key. She shows an amazing amount of restraint and quiet strength, which makes Ree one of the more sympathetic lead characters to come along in a while. With this performance, she proves that she can not only carry a film, but can do so with almost effortless ease. It would be a crime not to recognize this performance come Award time. This has a strong chance of being the breakout performance of the year.

Much like Cyrus, I can picture some audience members being frustrated with Winter's Bone. It emphasizes atmosphere over plot development. But, the movie has a quiet power that won me over, and held my interest throughout. It's kind of daring in a way for a thriller to be so quiet and unassuming, and makes it all the more powerful when the harsh reality of danger hits the audience. This is a quaint and absorbing film that deserves to find an audience. Hopefully the studio will give it a large enough of a release for people to discover it.

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