Winter's Bone

It is no secret that I prefer dark, moody movies to the sunny, life-affirming type. It is almost as if Winter’s Bone was written with me in mind. This movie is dark from beginning to end but there is no wondering why it was nominated in the Best Picture category of the Academy Awards.

In Winter’s Bone, we meet Ree (Jennifer Lawrence). Ree doesn’t have an easy life. She has grown up dirt poor with a severely depressed and mentally-absent mother and a hard living, physically-absent father. She doesn’t waste time with self-pity because there is just too much to do. Without her, the household (meager though it is) would crumble and she isn’t about to let her family down.

One day the Sheriff stops by to deliver the news that her father used the house as collateral for his bail. His trial is coming up and if he isn’t in court next week, the house will be seized to satisfy the bond. Ree really can’t catch a break, but she’s determined not to lose the house. Ree sets out to find her father before it’s too late.

Finding her father won’t be easy because Ree has no idea where he might be. She does know that he’s involved with the drug trade, so she dives into the underworld. Each time she follows a lead, she is threatened and ordered to stop her search. Ree is terrified, but she refuses to stop her search, she has too much to lose.

At one point she realizes that her father is probably dead, but if she isn’t able to prove it, the house will be gone. Ree pushes on, putting herself in grave danger. At times she needs to rely on her enemies for help so she never truly knows if she will make it home to care for her family. The tension in this movie is palpable, yet delightful.

Winter’s Bone earns four stars. This movie is very well done. Jennifer Lawrence is an incredible young actor, and the supporting cast also shines. The story is very interesting and the cinematography supports the dark theme. This movie isn’t for everyone, but for those, like me, who adore a creepy, psychological movie, Winter’s Bone is a keeper.

Michelle D. Kieffaber