Brace yourself for this film.
This four-time Oscar nominated movie is unsettling, full of tension and dread about what happens next. There's little in the way of humour here. Winter's Bone is a stark drama/suspense feature.
Kudos to Jennifer Lawrence for her standout work as Ree, the de facto leader of the house where dad is missing and mom is not able to care for her three children. Lawrence is so many things in this film - defiant, scared, confused.
Her father has skipped a court date. His house was put up for bail. If he doesn't show soon, or Ree can prove he's dead, her family loses their home.
Pops ran with a rough crowd, manufacturing drugs. None of his associates are especially keen to talk about his whereabouts. Ree presses on because she knows losing the home will be devastate her mother and two younger siblings. This family in Missouri family is dirt poor.
Ree gets help from her father's brother, Teardrop (John Hawkes), a coke sniffing sibling with his own past run-ins with the law.
Some of this film's biggest chills come from Dale Dickey,as Merab, wife/partner/girlfriend of Thump Milton (Ronnie Hall). Merab is the kind of character that makes others wary, with the potential for violence ever present.
Winter's Bone received Academy Award nominations for best feature, lead actress, supporting actor and adapted screenplay.
Director Debra Granik has done great work here.
RATING: 8/10
FUN FACTS: Dale Dickey is in the cast of Iron Man III.
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