Winter’s Bone follows a high school girl who must juggle the responsibilities of hunting down her drug dealing father in the drab Ozark Mountains and look after her two siblings. Relative newcomer Jennifer Lawrence is nothing less than spectacular in the lead role, brilliantly portraying a young woman who has wisdom and strength well beyond her years.
No shades of the typical Hollywood image are found here, as director Debra Granik keeps true to the bleak landscape and dingy lifestyle of the Ozark inhabitants. You wouldn’t want to be friends with the people Lawrence encounters, and you’ll feel the need to take a good shower upon being around them. I took two after watching the film.
The plot, unrelenting and rich with integrity, seems slow at times, but the aim of the film isn’t to dazzle viewers.
Winter’s Bone sets out to show the plight of a simple yet extraordinary woman and the social danger she faces in order to accomplish her mission of finding her father.
I wasn’t necessarily blown away with entertainment or amazement by Winter’s Bone, but I certainly can appreciate great film making and fully understand why the old folks at the academy would love this movie. The academy, in fact, has nominated this film for Best Picture, with Lawrence and John Hawkes, getting nods for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor, respectively. At the very most, Winter’s Bone is a long shot to take home any Oscars, but a trophy isn’t the award here. The fact that this little known gem of a film was recognized and nominated is the true victory, and Granik and company should already feel proud.