Dallas IFF '10 – Winter's Bone Review

Reviews, Theatrical Reviews

These ain’t Jeff Foxworthy’s rednecks.

In the movies, rednecks are usually typecast as either dumb (Joe Dirt) or inbred serial killers (Wrong Turn). In Sundance Film Festival winner Winter’s Bone, these people from the Ozarks are clannish, violent, and would do anything ANYTHING to keep a secret about one of their own.

In the opening scene, high school students are seen learning how to care for babies using those dolls from Home Ec. Our heroine Ree is a high school senior, but she’s learned this bit of information from firsthand experience. Instead of attending class, Ree stays home to care for her younger brother and sister while her mother suffers from illness and her father is in prison.

A policeman shows up at Ree’s home looking for her father. It appears he’s skipped out on his bail bond, but he’s put up the family’s home as collateral. If he doesn’t show up for his court date, the house will be taken from them. From here, Ree starts on a journey to find her father, dead or alive, and she encounters a slew of family members and the lengths they will go to keep secrets within the family.

The neo noir style bleak atmosphere and brutal imagery is accentuated by great performances. Jennifer Lawrence (The Burning Plain) plays Ree with a confidence and understanding beyond her years. Dale Dickey (My Name Is Earl) and John Hawkes (Eastbound and Down) both play family members who are two of the most sinister characters I’ve seen in awhile. The only problem is the pacing of the film, which despite the intensity of the storyline, drags in places.

This film isn’t typically something that is up my particular alley, and I wish I could rate it higher. If anything else, I’d recommend it for the excellent performances and non-stereotypical portrayal of what might be considered rednecks. Winter’s Bone is definitely something to see for yourself.


Director: Debra Granik
Notable Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Dale Dickey, John Hawkes
Writer(s): Debra Granik, Anne Rossellini

Jenny is proud to be the First Lady of Inside Pulse Movies. She gives female and mommy perspective, and has two kids who help with rating family movies. (If they don't like 'em, what's the point?) She prefers horror movies to chick flicks, and she can easily hang with the guys as long as there are several frou-frou girlie drinks to be had.