Movie Review: Winter's Bone

Way back when, your author used to fancy himself a movie critic. And on occasion, some people he hasn't talked to in a while will immediately ask if he still reviews movies. Since he usually has to begrudgingly admit that he is still waiting tables instead, there will occasionally be movie reviews posted here at BMC—not necessarily new or even the most recent releases, but still technically reviews—just so he can say he indeed still bitches about what's getting too much/not enough attention. Reviews will offer a quick take that ends with a brief summarizing thought that, in the spirit of Metacritic or Sound Opinions, will be in green (denoting a positive opinion), yellow (mixed opinion) or red (negative opinion). And sorry, but no star-ratings or letter grades.

Today's review: "Winter's Bone," originally released January 21, 2010 at the Sundance Film Festival.



THREE THINGS I LIKED:

1. A STAR IS BORN — As 17-year-old Ree, Winter's Bone is effectively a vehicle for Jennifer Lawrence. And she makes the most of the role in which she, already having to care for her younger siblings and ailing mother search, finds herself searching for a father who has jumped bail after putting up the family's house as collateral. The film's journey through extremely rural Ozarks locales keeps Lawrence in the frame for nearly every shot, and the actress quietly makes the most out of her role the entire time. She doesn't get a big inspirational "killer speech" moment to help land an Oscar, but she wins over the audience through many smaller gestures such as her humility early on when asking a neighbor to care for a horse the family can't afford to feed.
2. THE CLIMAX — Without giving too much away, the moment might be a little too overly grisly or Gothic for some tastes, but I'll admit to finding it one of my favorite moments of the film.
3. IT'S LIKE LAST YEAR'S PRECIOUS IN THE SENSE THAT ... — It's giving us a non-traditional feminist tale in which the heroine overcomes a series of mounting difficulties, and you naturally end up rooting for her success. Unlike Precious though, Winter's Bone doesn't go over-the-top with miserable twists.

THREE THINGS I DIDN'T:

1. ... BUT IT'S ALSO LIKE LAST YEAR'S PRECIOUS IN THE SENSE THAT ... — While it's not the inner-city, the film still presents a pretty rough backwoods setting on its main character. In case we didn't make the bleak prospects clear here: innocent-looking teenage girl stuck in a land of meth-making rednecks. Go!
2. SUPPORTING CHARACTERS BORDER ON CARICATURE — Some might find the dialogue occasionally humorous, but at times the hillbilly-ese feels a bit too heavy and cartoonish. And the film breaks pretty neatly into two distinct halves for an easy character arc for all: first one finding nearly everyone Ree encounters to be malevolent, then the second part having many decide to assist.
3. IT. JUST. MOVES. SO. SLOOOOOOOOOW ... — There's occasionally elements here of mystery, noir and suspense, but for the most part, Winter's Bone plods along pretty aimlessly like it's trudging through mud. You're forgiven for looking at your watch more than once, as there's more than a few scenes in the film that just felt utterly lifeless.

25 WORDS OR LESS:

The critical fave that's bound to leave lots of viewers wondering if they saw the same film.