Steve Reviews Winter's Bone

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I saw this film. I didn’t really know the premise, and I was unfamiliar with almost all of the principle cast members. That’s really the best way to go into a movie, if you ask me. You start with a blank slate, and the merits of the film give you an honest opinion.

So what is this movie about? Set in the dirt-poor hills of the Ozarks, it’s about a young girl, Ree, who must take care of her disabled mother and 2 siblings. The problem is, they are all going to lose their home, unless Ree can find her crystal meth-dealing father. When she starts poking her nose in other people’s lives, things take a turn for the worse.

That may sound like an interesting story, but the movie itself was not so interesting. It was rather long and slow, and it didn’t really make any sense. I have never lived in the back-woods. I have, however, seen enough movies to know that if you’re poor (which is why you live in the back-woods) you do 2 things for money: you become a prostitute or you start up a meth lab. I’m not sure which I would personally choose; they both have their benefits, but I digress.

My problem came in that the ends didn’t justify the means. I’m not going to provide any spoilers, but the premise of the impending doom didn’t sit well with me. This girl only wants to know if anyone has seen her father. She goes to see her neighbors and they get pissed that she’s asking this question. She goes to see her own family and they get even MORE pissed that she’s asking this question. She doesn’t understand (and neither do we), so let’s get more pissed and try to kill people. I realize that uneducated people do not have the same opportunities as you and I, but really? Again, I’ve never run a meth lab. I’m not sure of the paranoia quota that comes with that job description, but “Winter’s Bone” seemed to be a little excessive to me.

I was happy when the credits rolled. I was happy to not live that life.

P.S. Jennifer Lawrence, the star of the film, was fantastic. She did a great job. Nomination worthy, but I’m sorry you have to sit through this movie to see it.

-Steve
2.5.2011