Winter's Bone [Blu-ray]

Wow! I just rented this video here on Amazon, and I am absolutely, one hundred percent blown away. I'd been meaning to watch it since the Oscars, and Jennifer Lawrence's recent casting in the Hunger Games finally prompted me to rent it in order to see if she could convincingly portray Katniss Everdeen, who is near and dear to my heart. Suffice it to say that she can. But I won't talk about the Hunger Games here... this review is about Winter's Bone, which I can say without hesitation is one of the most superb films I have seen in years.Other reviewers have written beautiful summaries of the plot and the setting, so I won't repeat them here. Frankly, I'm much better at reviewing books than movies (and you'd better believe that I'll be reading the book ASAP!) All I can really say is that this movie left my head spinning, my stomach churning, and my heart racing - how the writer and director managed to do that using such slow pacing, minimal plotting and spare settings, I will never know. What I do know is that I have never been so terrified by something so completely realistic and authentic. There is no sensationalism here. This is a dead-on portrayal of certain aspects of rural life (some of which I've seen myself in my hometown, and have trouble explaining to people who think that rural life is always quaint and pleasant.) The line that Ree has to walk between saving her nuclear family and proving her loyalty to her father's relatives is harrowing, and her survival depends upon her ability to walk that line. That is, I believe, what ultimately lends the film its horrific depth, because it is not a traditional thriller. By the climax of the movie, which involves a boat ride into a swamp in the middle of the night, I had my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming out loud. The brilliant thing is that Jennifer Lawrence's face was showing the exact same emotion - watching Ree fight back her horror, I felt like I was being willed to scream and break on her behalf.Jennifer Lawrence is a truly magnificent actress. Having seen her in interviews, I cannot believe that an actress with such a bubbly personality could portray this guarded, secretive, desperate, and terrifying character. Yet part of what made her performance powerful were the moments when she slipped back into the role of little girl, and we were reminded that Ree was only 17. The scene with the army recruiter and the scene at the police station were standouts in this regard - I got goosebumps watching her sit in the police station holding a bag of you-know-what, and wearing the expectant, happy expression of an ordinary teenager. Even simple acts such as teaching the younger kids how to shoot or make deer stew ("a little bit of survival," as Ree puts it) were tremendously poignant. She melted my heart in nearly every frame of the film. Ree's destiny, unfortunately, seems predetermined, but I can't pity her, because her spirit and heart are way too big to merit anyone's pity.During the Oscars this year, I was all about Black Swan and really wanted Natalie Portman to win the award for best actress. This is hard for me to say, but after watching Winter's Bone, I believe that Jennifer Lawrence should have received the award, hands down. I have learned a valuable lesson about seeing ALL of the movies before making any judgments. I'm consoled by the certainty that Jennifer will receive many an Oscar nomination in the future.Finally, to touch briefly on the Hunger Games (I'm sorry, but I can't resist...) If anyone is reading these reviews to see if Jennifer can pull off the role of Katniss, rest assured that this girl is pretty much Katniss incarnate. I honestly believe that she was born to play the role, and I can't think of anyone else who would be more deserving or who will be more believable. Gary Ross has said that casting Jennifer in the role was the easiest casting decision of his life, and I can well believe it. I'm glad that he went with a serious actress for the film and I am ecstatic that he chose Jennifer.

Made when people still knew how to tell a great story. Great acting, writing, and editing. Wish Hollywood could still put out something like this.

Seventeen-year-old Ree Dolly has a problem. She's stuck trying to manage a run-down household that consists of her ailing Mom, two younger siblings, an absent father, and no income to support them. That problem becomes minor when Ree learns that her meth-cooking Dad has put up their home and land for bail - and is now nowhere to be found. Things come to a head when Ree is told she has just days to produce Jessup (her father) or face eviction. She attempts to follow what little trail Jessup has left behind with no idea of the dangers that await her.Winter's Bone is an independent film directed by Deborah Granik who shared screenwriting credits with Anne Rosellini, the latter also doing double duty as producer. The film is derived from the Daniel Woodrell novel that carries the same title. With a running time of approximately 100 minutes, the movie follows the book very closely, leaving out only a few scenes that have little impact on the main story. Granik leads the viewer through the hillbilly subculture of southern Missouri, taking care to not only show the level of poverty and the ravages of the methamphetamine trade, but to also share some of this region’s musical heritage (which I understand was provided by actual locals that appear in the film).Jennifer Lawrence gives a powerful performance that belies her years. Her character is perceptive and extremely determined, but a lot of what Ree doesn't know is also evident. Being the focus of almost every scene, Jennifer’s portrayal is consistent and as believable as anything I've ever seen. I'm not sure how much sway 'Winter’s Bone' will have come Oscar time, but it would be truly a shame if Jennifer Lawrence didn't at least receive a nomination spot for this effort. Some may recognize Lawrence from the cable sitcom, ‘The Bill Engvall Show’, but the rest of the cast is not from your typical casting list. John Hawkes appears as Ree’s menacing Uncle, Teardrop, and Dale Dickey gives a tough-as-nails performance as one of the distant relatives Ree ends up crossing paths with.I do have one issue with this otherwise fine project. Whether by intent, or due to the constraints of an independent film budget, the entire film is shot using close-in camera shots. The effect, for me, was a somewhat claustrophobic view of the surroundings. I think a number of scenes would have benefited from a larger perspective. As an example, having no car, Ree often resorts to walking fair distances to continue her quest, but the viewer gets no sense of this in the movie.Other than that, 'Winter's Bone' will draw you in and leave you thinking well after the film is over. As bleak as Winter's Bone tends to be, you can't help but admire Ree for her sense of obligation and her refusal to back down in the toughest of situations. If you’re looking for a Hollywood ending, you won't find it here; but what you should find is a glimmer of hope.

Based on Daniel Woodrell`s novel of the same title, this is a low-budget, independent film that may well have been overlooked but for the starring role played by Jennifer Laurence.And consigning this to obscurity would have been unfair, as it is an absorbing, powerful piece of drama that stays with you long after viewing. It's a bleak, gritty and rather violent film set in a dirt-poor, but closely-knit community in the Ozarks; Ree Dolly (Laurence) must find her recently paroled father in order to prevent the loss of the family home she shares with her two young siblings and her mentally disabled mother; unfortunately that is not in the interests of everyone else, as they are all bound up in working for the local boss who runs the underworld drug scene.Laurence carries the lead with assurance and has the support of a very convincing cast that includes first-time actors. The locations and filming style capture the desperate backwoods existence that pervades the storyline.A harrowing film, but one worth watching.The UK DVD release presents the film in a 16x9 ratio, has English subtitles and a few extras; a 46 minute “making of “documentary (which should really be titled “behind the scenes”) some deleted scenes, an alternative opening and a music video.

Descend into the bleak world of rural poverty stricken America where women wear no make up, live with violent husbands, wear tough jeans and dress like boys, a world of log cabins, drugs, trailers, unfriendly cold stares, snarling dogs, teenage mums and barren landscapes. There's no glamour here, hell our protagonist even wears a t-shirt which says "down to earth."The premise of the film involves a poor teenager from a broken home struggling to get by. When she learns her drug dealing criminal father's non appearance at court will cost her family their home she sets off an a journey to find him, though her wider family and community will do just about whatever it takes to stop her with their 'Don't know, don't want to know' mentality. Okay, not much happens in the film in terms of the story it's more about hanging out with this character as she battles against this tight knit community. The story features pretty much no warmth of humour either, it's quite a hard watch.

Ein Sozialdrama und naturalistischer Thriller gleichermassen, entstanden im Jahr 2010 unter der Regie von Debra Granik nach der gleichnamigen Novelle von Daniel Woodrell.Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence), 17 Jahre alt, lebt zusammen mit ihren zwei Geschwistern und der an Depressionen leidenden Mutter auf engstem Raum in den Ozarks in Missouri. Vater Jessup, der Crystal gekocht hat, sitzt zurzeit eine Haftstrafe ab, soll jedoch, wie Ree eines Tages erfährt, gegen Kautionszahlung wieder auf freien Fuß gekommen und seitdem spurlos verschwunden sein. Da er vor seinem Verschwinden dem Kautionsvermittler zur Sicherheit das der Dolly-Familie gehörende Haus nebst Land gestellt hat, droht den in ärmlichen Verhältnissen Wohnenden schon bald der Verlust ihrer vier Wände, sollte Vater Jessup nicht pünktlich beim kommenden Gerichtstermin erscheinen. Ree begibt sich daher notgedrungen auf die Suche nach ihrem Vater, um die Familie zu retten, stößt dabei jedoch unerwartet in ein wahres Wespennest aus Vorurteilen, Familienehre und purer Gewalt....Kein Spaß. Kein Lächeln. Kein Lachen. Alles hässlich, trostlos und karg.Die Landschaft. Die Menschen. Die Arbeit. Kurz gesagt: Das ganze Leben dort.So in etwa sieht es in „Winters Bone“ aus. Der Film ist durch und durch pessimistisch, lässt seine Protagonistin menschliche Härte spüren und nur selten deren Wärme.Hier hat man keine Freunde. Jedenfalls nicht besonders viele.Der Film zeigt eine farblose, hoffnungslose Gegend, in der man nicht begraben sein möchte. Wie die Gegend sind auch deren Einwohner. Gelächelt wird hier praktisch nie, es gibt auch keinen Grund dafür.Eine dementsprechende Wirkung überträgt sich schnell auf den Zuschauer. „Winter's Bone“ ist durch seinen schonungslosen Realismus absolut kein Feel-Good-Movie. Ehrlich gesagt hat der Film praktisch keinen Unterhaltungswert, ist darin aber ziemlich brillant.In diesem Teil Missouris herrscht eine düstere und beklemmende Atmosphäre. Hinterwäldler, die in dreckigen Unterhemden Banjo spielen, Fünfjährige, die Innereien von einem gerade mit einem Gewehr „erlegten“ Eichhörnchen pulen, um dieses später zu verspeisen – es ist eine fremde Welt voller Holzhütten mit Wellblechwänden, wo wehleidige Country-Musik läuft.Für das Auge gibt es einiges zu entdecken, inhaltlich passiert sehr wenig. Die Suche der Tochter nach ihrem Vater erscheint fast als ein Alibi um in diese ärmliche Welt voller ausgebrannter Meth-Labore und alter Pickup-Trucks einzutauchen.Es ist beileibe kein reißerisch inszenierter Milieu-Ausflug, der diese Welt überzeichnet abbildet. Es ist vielmehr ein nüchterner Blick auf die Stumpfheit und Ausweglosigkeit dieser Menschen. Trotzdem fehlt der Geschichte der fortwährende Antrieb. Denn die immer wiederkehrenden Besuche bei Cousinen, dem Onkel väterlicherseits, dem Groß-Cousin oder dem bärbeißigen Clan-Patriarch lassen die karge Geschichte ständig im Kreis rotieren und an manchen Stellen überaus langweilig geraten.Jennifer Lawrence betreibt durch ihr wirklich sehr gutes Spiel noch so etwas wie Schadensbegrenzung. Warum John Hawkes, in der Rolle des Onkels Teardrop, gar für einen Oscar nominiert wurde, bleibt wohl das Geheimnis der Academy, denn außer seinem ständig grimmigen und düsteren Gesichtsausdruck war da nichts.„Winter's Bone“ ist von einer Langeweile, Gleichgültigkeit und Empathielosigkeit durchzogen, dass sich die 97 Minuten bis auf wenige Momente recht zähflüssig dahinschleppen.Meinen Geschmack hat der Film nicht getroffen, konnte mich emotional einfach nicht erreichen.

"Winter's bone" is one of the best films I saw in a long, long time. I watched it with eyes wide open without ever taking the shortest break and I was speechless for a long moment after the final credits rolled...Ree (Jennifer Lawrence) is 17 years old. She lives in an impoverished area in Ozark mountains. Since her father disappeared and her mother mentally collapsed she was left in sole charge of the family house and her two much younger siblings. Even before her parents became unavailable the family was very poor (as almost all other people living in the area) but now Ree makes her family survive from day to day by all sorts of expedients, more and more desperate. And then suddenly she must face a new, completely unexpected and devastating blow... What follows is an incredible, heartbreaking and nervewrecking fight this seemingly defenseless and helpless girl will wage against all odds, with very little help, to save her family... And as Ulysses had to step down to Hades to find his way to Ithaca, so she will have also at one moment to go into the deep, cold darkness... I am not saying anything more.I was and still am in total awe of Jennifer Lawrence's performance in this film. It is not an accident that this was her big break - and once you watched this film you will realise that she simply HAD TO be chosen to play Katniss Everdeen in "Hunger Games" - because in this film she already played her, even if character's name was different.I also simply loved the fact, that this film, although definitely not "Hollywoodian" and very, very grim in its presentation of America's poorest people, contained also lots of very valuable lessons about how to win against even the most unfavorable odds. Ree is not only totally fearless and resolved - she is also clever and always thinks things over before acting. She is not a great speaker but the few words she says are always carefully weighted and measured, to make certain they hit right where she wants them to hit. She never panicks. She always has a plan. And she always, always keeps her calm and preserves her dignity - even when lying in the dirt, coughing blood...This uncorrupted dignity is actually the main source of her power. Unlike many of her teenage friends Ree didn't marry at a young age and she didn't get pregnant either, as so many young girls in the poorest neighborhoods. She NEVER touches to drugs - she even refuses to smoke a joint... She is also probably the only character on the screen who never drinks even one drop of alcohol. Totally focused on the survival of her family she seems to be completely celibate - although she is certainly not indifferent to men, as it is possible to see in scenes when she meets her very, very scary uncle Teardrop... Very ambivalent looks and conversations (and only looks and conversations - nothing more) between Ree and her uncle make some moments of this film more unsettling than most thrillers I saw...The vision of this poor mountainous society living almost totally outside the laws of the rest of the country is another treasure of this film. Even Ree, who is a very noble character, shows openly contempt to the policemen - because in this strange world even if you are not a criminal yourself, you simply never talk to cops. Ever.Some "progressist" critics called this film "feminist", but I didn't see in it any feminism at all. It is the story about human strength and dignity facing a world as cold and cruel as possible, with as much resolve, courage and dignity as one can imagine. Nothing more - but also nothing less.In conclusion, I will repeat just once more - I LOVED this film and I am going to watch it again soon, because this is one of the best movies to be made in the last years. Enjoy!

This is a beautifully shot and acted film about murky goings on in the backwoods of America. Every single character from the smallest cameo to the main protagonists, is convincing and three dimensional. It is a tough film but well worth watching.But you have to ask, why do the Americans make so many films about what swinedogs they are or at least, can be? It is a tradition that goes back to the original Great Train Robbery back in the 1920s. I suppose a heritage based on lawless adventurers stealing the land of another nation and taking over is part of it, and the long legacy of the crime era of the 20s and 30s as well, but still, I cannot think of another national film industry so bent on vilifying its own people and their history. And they don't even seem to learn anything by it.So anyway, here it is, a story of a feisty girl solving a mystery nobody else wants solved. Jennifer Lawrence is fabulous, utterly believable as the country girl at the heart of the story. The first time I saw this, in the cinema, I hadn't heard of her, but now I/we all have, I realise this performance is acting up there with the very best of the world's character acting. Nowadays she seems to be lost in the Hollywood fantasy film genre, but this film will make you pray she gets another part like this and soon. And maybe a heroine of similar qualities, to remind us that despite their worst efforts, the Americans are at heart a kind and honourable people, trying to do the right thing. But as someone once said, God protect from people who try to do good...