Directed By: Debra Granik
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Garrett Dillahunt, & Kevin Breznahan
MPAA Rating: R
My Rating: 4 / 10
Okay, let's face it, I am just about the only person in the world who hasn't prayed at the altar of Winter's Bone this year. Critics fell head over heels in love with it, it has been nominated for a slew of awards, and it even won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Knowing all of this, I went into Winter's Bone quite excited for what it had to offer...but I came out with a decidedly different impression. It just isn't that good. What this film was intended to be was a compelling dramatic thriller about a young girl trying to find her father, a journey that provided insights into the shocking poverty of the Ozarks, as well as the debilitating crystal meth ring running in the area. That could have made for a wonderful film. Unfortunately, Winter's Bone plays out more like some redneck mafia movie, where everyone stares ominously at everyone else and says things like, "Come with me. I've got something you need to see."
