I never had any plans to travel to the Missouri Ozark region and certainly won’t be rushing to go after seeing Winter’s Bone. I’m sure it has beautiful lakes, historical sites and fine wines , but the movie shows that it also has godforsaken areas where grinding poverty is the norm.
The movie is based on Daniel Woodrell’s 2006 novel, part of a fictional series he has called Country Noir. The main character is 17-year-old Ree Dolly who has to provide for her sick and depressed mother and younger brother and sister. Her father, Jessup, has disappeared seemingly to evade a drug related charge and certain gaol. He has jumped bail and ,since the family home has been put up as collateral, Ree and her family stand to lose everything if he can’t be traced (dead or alive). This is no easy task since the community Ree lives among is governed by strict codes administered by a violent patriarchy headed by ‘Thump’ Milton (no need to ask how it got that nickname!).
Ree is a determined and ,in the circumstances, incredibly well-balanced individual. The can of worms she uncovers as she tries to find out the fate of her father leads to a gruesome finale.
Jennifer Lawrence is quite outstanding in the role of the fearless and resilient Ree and she has deservedly been nominated for an Oscar. John Hawkes as is also great as her father’s brother (Teardrop) torn between family loyalty and the need not to break ranks in this primal hierarchy. Continue reading
