Winter's Bone (B or 3/4 stars)
Well, I've finally seen 'Winter's Bone' (directed by Debra Granik), a film touted by most critics as astounding & grippingly suspenseful. Well, what were they all smoking? It's a quality film, but nowhere near that good. Set in the backwoods of Missouri's Ozarks, the cold, bare, dilapidated locales hang on the film like an albatross; but it's still fascinating to watch. At age 17, Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) acts as mom to her 2 young siblings, & caregiver to her catatonic mother (crippled by depression). With the 'help' of direct neighbors, she barely holds things together for her family with small amounts of $$ and almost no help from anyone outside her situation. But then, she doesn't ask for much help, either. She has few dreams or aspirations; existing only to help her family. She'd like to join the army, not because she wants to, but because the $40,000 signing bonus would aid her family.
But there are more immediate problems. Ree's father Jessup, a methamphetamine cooker whose life has been inundated by run-ins with "the law", was recently arrested and, in order to get out on bail, he put his house up as the bond. After getting out, he disappeared; hence, becoming a 'runner' (to his bondsman). Now, Ree learns that her dad is scheduled for a court appearance for his illegal activities, must find him within a week and, if he's dead, prove it, or be kicked out of her house! No one in her immediate community is willing to talk openly about where her dad me be, or what's happened to him, including his own brother, Teardrop (John Hawkes); who warns Ree that sticking her neck out to the wrong people could get her murdered.
Wherever she ventures, Ree is met by cold, silent, angry individuals. Funny enough (or not), most of these people are of blood relation to Ree - as portions of the Ozarks are known for rampant local in-breeding. And the one man who may hold the key to Jessup's fate, will say nothing because 'talking just causes witnesses'. Nice, huh? Well, she won't give up for the sake of her family; heading out on her own quest for truth & closure. Lots of traipsing around dangerous social terrain commences, followed by vague happenstance, muddled dialogue/characterizations, & ultimately, a satisfying, cathartic ending. I relished trying to read between the lines of all those fuzzy characterizations/conversations. But everything about this film should have been more defined. It was too loose.
Though I admire this film, I just wasn't blown away by it. Set in the poverty-stricken Ozarks (no one seems to have proper electricity), the chilly mood also permeates the script. Of the film's 95 minutes, it's the chunk btwn. 40-75 that frustrated me; where relationships/situations btwn. Ree & the town folk are inadequately explained; causing confusion. The plot gets besieged with contextual details that don't matter much to the narrative, & Ree has the same muted, frustrating conversations with a plethora of unsavory characters (however fascinating they are to look at). Ree makes for a smart, resilient heroine. But the empathy we feel for her only goes so far. And the filmmakers take for granted that what we're really only supposed to know for sure is that Ree is our hero, that she's impressively self-sufficient, & all should end well for her. As written, I should have been devastated for her, but wasn't.
I've seen this type of film many times before - flat, linear storytelling that focuses more on setting, mood, & a slice-of-life portrayal than a riveting narrative. If the story were as voyeuristic & unsettling as the setting itself, then maybe we'd have had a real surprise like 2008's Frozen River; a film of great similarity that is just MUCH better. The last 20 minutes or so of this film make for a tidy conclusion; but little before it made the ending profound enough for me to rejoice in it. As our mercurial heroine, Jennifer Lawrence shows strong, but not outstanding talent. As Teardrop, John Hawkes brings much needed energy (and aura) to the film. Some would call 'Winter's Bone' a depressing slog. I see what it was trying to do ... it just didn't resonate with me the way it has to many other critics.
But there are more immediate problems. Ree's father Jessup, a methamphetamine cooker whose life has been inundated by run-ins with "the law", was recently arrested and, in order to get out on bail, he put his house up as the bond. After getting out, he disappeared; hence, becoming a 'runner' (to his bondsman). Now, Ree learns that her dad is scheduled for a court appearance for his illegal activities, must find him within a week and, if he's dead, prove it, or be kicked out of her house! No one in her immediate community is willing to talk openly about where her dad me be, or what's happened to him, including his own brother, Teardrop (John Hawkes); who warns Ree that sticking her neck out to the wrong people could get her murdered.
Wherever she ventures, Ree is met by cold, silent, angry individuals. Funny enough (or not), most of these people are of blood relation to Ree - as portions of the Ozarks are known for rampant local in-breeding. And the one man who may hold the key to Jessup's fate, will say nothing because 'talking just causes witnesses'. Nice, huh? Well, she won't give up for the sake of her family; heading out on her own quest for truth & closure. Lots of traipsing around dangerous social terrain commences, followed by vague happenstance, muddled dialogue/characterizations, & ultimately, a satisfying, cathartic ending. I relished trying to read between the lines of all those fuzzy characterizations/conversations. But everything about this film should have been more defined. It was too loose.
Though I admire this film, I just wasn't blown away by it. Set in the poverty-stricken Ozarks (no one seems to have proper electricity), the chilly mood also permeates the script. Of the film's 95 minutes, it's the chunk btwn. 40-75 that frustrated me; where relationships/situations btwn. Ree & the town folk are inadequately explained; causing confusion. The plot gets besieged with contextual details that don't matter much to the narrative, & Ree has the same muted, frustrating conversations with a plethora of unsavory characters (however fascinating they are to look at). Ree makes for a smart, resilient heroine. But the empathy we feel for her only goes so far. And the filmmakers take for granted that what we're really only supposed to know for sure is that Ree is our hero, that she's impressively self-sufficient, & all should end well for her. As written, I should have been devastated for her, but wasn't.
I've seen this type of film many times before - flat, linear storytelling that focuses more on setting, mood, & a slice-of-life portrayal than a riveting narrative. If the story were as voyeuristic & unsettling as the setting itself, then maybe we'd have had a real surprise like 2008's Frozen River; a film of great similarity that is just MUCH better. The last 20 minutes or so of this film make for a tidy conclusion; but little before it made the ending profound enough for me to rejoice in it. As our mercurial heroine, Jennifer Lawrence shows strong, but not outstanding talent. As Teardrop, John Hawkes brings much needed energy (and aura) to the film. Some would call 'Winter's Bone' a depressing slog. I see what it was trying to do ... it just didn't resonate with me the way it has to many other critics.