Winter's Bone

If you’re looking for a film that is the complete antithesis of the usual blockbuster fare then Winter’s Bone will probably be the film for you. This story of an Ozark teenager who, after discovering that her absent Dad has put up the family home as a bail bond, must not only try and track him down, but care for her mother, brother and sister at the same time, is (mainly) filmed on location, has very little dialogue and not a special effect in sight. What it does have though is a great central performance from the relatively unknown Jennifer Lawrence as the teenage girl (Ree) in question. Her journey to find her father, which takes in the crystal meth making criminal fraternity, feels less like an obligation, but more like the fact that this is just how life is for the people living in such a remote area. Whether it’s skinning squirrels, getting beaten up or having a gun pointed in her face, Ree just gets on with it with barely a shrug. The fact that Lawrence lived as Ree does as part of her preparation has paid off in spades. Filmed on location in Missouri, the cinematography is fantastic, with the houses looking and feeling real because, well, they are real. In fact, so authentic is the feel of the film that, as Ree crackles through the forest, with the cold air exhaling from her mouth and nose the film almost takes on a documentary edge. Offering great support is John Hawkes, cast as Ree’s uncle Teardrop. Hawkes is probably best well known for his soft character in Deadwood, but here he comes across as a serious bastard. As the film progresses though you’ll begin to warm to Teardrop as some semblance of honour and pride begin to shine through, all thanks to Hawkes’ nice performance. So, this is all sounding great, right? But….but….but……this film is seriously slow, almost funereal at times. No doubt things aren’t rushed in the Ozark region, but watching such sluggish pace in a cinema is a big struggle. Whether this is a problem of the film being adapted from page to screen is hard to say as I haven’t read the book, but sometime director Debra Granik obviously felt that Ree’s journey will be enough to take you in full-stop. I’m not so sure. This also leads to a problem that if your mind does start to wander, you’ll probably miss something crucial to the story meaning that the final few scenes will be confusing to say the least.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
Looks amazing with two great performances, but the leisurely pace may have you fidgeting in your seat, no matter how many great shots of the mountains there are. Rating: 6/10.