Debra Granik's Winter's Bone (2010)

Ozark-noir. It’s a new genre. Winter’s Bone is the reason why. This second film from Debra Granik is an atmospheric, lean, nasty mystery set among the trailers, dilapidated houses, and broken down cars of an unfortunate Ozarks mountain community. Our hero is 17-year-old Ree Dolly (imbued with fearlessness and gravitas by 20 year old Jennifer Lawrence), who we see taking care of her two young siblings and mentally damaged mother. She hunts for squirrels, teaches her brother and sister how to shoot, and generally works to hold their world together. We quickly understand that this is a girl with experience and responsibility far beyond her age. She has been forced to grow up much too fast and the trials she endures through the course of Winter’s Bone only reinforce this sad fact. Ree’s dad, a local meth cook, has disappeared after posting the bond for his latest arrest. He put up the family home and land as collateral. Ree must find him and make sure he appears in court, or they will lose everything. She sets out on a nightmarish journey of the community and the network of drug dealers, criminals, and miscreants that inhabit it. It becomes increasingly clear what awaits the girl at the end of her journey, and although armed with this vile knowledge, audiences will be unable to look away.

Winter’s Bone pulls no punches – this is a hard film full of hard people living what look to be very hard lives. It should come as no surprise that it can be hard to watch at times. For those used to the world of noir consisting solely of the seedy nightclubs and alleys of L.A., the setting and mood of Winter’s Bone will provide a sharp rebuke. This is the most atmospheric movie of the year and the oppressive, cold gloom settles on the characters, the rusted out cars, and the dilapidated trailers like the thick fog of the Ozarks. This bleakness extends beyond the direction and setting to the characters and performances. Jennifer Lawrence is a revelation here, establishing her character Ree as a force to be reckoned with even though she is just a teenager. She may be naïve and unprepared for the danger that awaits her, but she will not yield and Lawrence captures this resolute attitude perfectly. It is a subtle and brilliant performance, but the real showstopper is Teardrop, Ree’s frightening drug-addicted uncle, played by John Hawkes in a mesmerizing performance.

As played by Hawkes, Teardrop’s presence looms over the entire film, and it quickly becomes clear that he is rightly feared by just about everyone. Hawkes has made a career of playing sympathetic nice guys, most famously Sol Starr in Deadwood and more recently Dustin Powers in Eastbound and Down, but here Hawkes shuffles about, all 150 pounds of him, with a look that will chill you to the bone. It is the kind of performance that makes even the most casual observer sit straight up in rapt attention. I have a bad feeling, that Oscar is going to ignore John Hawkes come nomination day, but everyone who sees this film will know that his performance is one of the best committed to celluloid in recent memory.

I want to go on, but it’s probably best not to divulge any further plot points or details, lest I ruin this dark journey into the criminal world of the Ozarks. This is a brave film, led by two powerful performances and a heavy atmosphere of dread and gloom. You may not “enjoy “ Winter’s Bone in the traditional sense, but this is a film that, through the skill of the performances and quality of the direction, will demand and receive your respect and admiration. 5 out of 5 stars.