Winter's Bone

Hollywood over the years has found a niche for creating movies around young film stars (of an age less than eighteen years). Judy Garland’s performance in “The Wizard of Oz” (1939), Haly Joel Osment in “The Sixth Sense” (1999), Natalie Portman’s character in “Leon: The Professional” (1994), Linda Blair’s depiction of a possessed child in “The Exorcist” (1973) to more recently, Gabourey Sidibe’s performance as an emotionally tormented child in “Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire” (2009).  These performances by young stars rank as some of the best in a generation. More so, these performances also have one common element: entire movies are focused on its young stars and they carry the movies really well, which in itself is a real challenge. Debra Granik’s “Winter’s Bone” (2010) rightly belongs in this category, with Jennifer Lawrence’s riveting performance.  Based on a book by Daniel Woodrell, “Winter’s Bone” became a darling at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize for the best picture.

Jennifer Lawrence stars as a seventeen-year-old, Ree Dolly. “Winter’s Bone” begins with a sheriff knocking at Dolly’s residence and informing them that Ree’s father has disappeared. Actually, things are complicated and it appears that Ree’s father has put their house and the land up for bond. Since he has disappeared now, the Dollys have a week to find him, after which their house will be confiscated by local law authorities. Rees’s mother is mentally ill, and she is cut off from the outside world, which leaves Ree as the head of the household. To complicate things further, she is also responsible for her two young siblings.

Thereafter, Ree embarks on a journey to find her father’s whereabouts, and she knocks on every door in the neighborhood. Along the way, she meets Uncle Teardrops (John Hawkes), who probably knows where Ree’s dad has disappeared. She also meets close friends and relatives who are threatening her with dire consequences if she pokes her nose in this matter any further.  Meanwhile, it is revealed that Ree’s father was a drug dealer, and he probably got himself into trouble with other dealers. The big question is, Will Ree able to find her father before it is too late?

“Winter’s Bone” is mainly praised for Lawrence’s breakthrough performance and its investigative narrative. Lawrence makes her presence known from the first scene. At the start, she learns that there is not enough food to feed the horses in their farm, so she requests the neighbor to take care of the horses. From that point onward, we get a sense of her family’s poor living conditions and that they have no money. After the sheriff's visit at their house, she soon realizes the responsibility that has befallen on her. In her father’s absence and with a mentally sick mother, she fully understands the gravity of the situation. Lawrence transforms herself from being a worried individual as shown initially, to a mature and responsible sister. At this point, she is not acting as a daughter. The screenplay lays out the expectations of Ree’s character pretty clearly, and there is no ambiguity that might occur as a result of roles crossover--between that of a daughter and sister.

Ree’s mission takes her to nearby ranches and acquaintances that are not very pleasant to her; some threaten to kill her if she keeps on snooping with her investigation. In one scene, she is badly beaten, but in spite of serious injuries to her, Ree stays firmly focused in finding her father by responding like a warrior. Throughout, with her never-say-die attitude she never backs down. But, after all, she is human, and the thought of leaving the young siblings crosses her mind at one point.  However, she stays strong in the face of the uncertainty looming in the future. To highlight Ree’s fear of losing the home, director, Debra Granik, juxtaposes a black-and-white documentary-like segment in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio in which we see houses being burnt down and the wildlife around it scrambling to safety.  The segment’s imagery is a metaphor for the consequences awaiting Ree and her family.

Jennifer Lawrence’s portrayal of Ree will draw similarities to Gabourey Sidibe’s character in “Precious.” In both films, we see the main characters burdened with the responsibility of managing their young ones at a relatively young age. Even though the adults in both the houses are irresponsible--Ree’s father and Precious’s mother--Ree and Precious somehow manage to find strength and will to march forward, irrespective of the consequences. Even so, Ree is trying to stay in the existing domestic space, while Precious wants to forever leave the apartment--both are understandably frustrated and angered by their parents’ actions.

Another notable performance in “Winter’s Bone” comes from John Hawks, who plays the character of Teardrop. Initially, he definitely seemed to pose a threat to Ree, but as both develop their relationship, Teardrop shares shocking details about Ree’s father. Hawks brings in edginess that borders on being highly unpredictable; with his piercing and intense gaze, we don’t know if he is going to kill Ree or help her. Indeed, the depth in the character development provides for fascinating performances all around.

While the movie will be talked more about the performances, and its possible Oscar buzz, “Winter’s Bone” also features Michael McDonough’s eye-catching photography. The mountainous landscapes around the Missouri and Arkansans countryside are beautifully presented--a reminder of how the Coen Brothers shoot their movies. In one sequence, Ree, and her siblings walk down a pathway with two broken-down shacks in the background. Instead of centrally placing the characters in the scene, McDonough waits for them to descend the terrain, and the final shot is composed at two-thirds way down in the frame. The end result is very artistic and soothing to look at, in spite of poor lighting conditions. Of course, there are many shots like this in the film. I am sure shooting this film would have been a real challenge for the crew because of variable light conditions and since the film is mostly shot during the nighttime.

Those looking for a conventional investigative narrative will be disappointed. There is no crime planned or committed, and, hence, there are no detectives trying to solve the case. Instead, “Winter’s Bone” is one person’s chilling journey to the dark side of human nature, seeking to find the truth about events leading to the disappearance of Ree’s father. While some viewers might complain about the pacing of the film and how the story unfolds, they will be rewarded with captivating performances from Jennifer Lawrence and John Hawks.

Video:
The beautiful Ozark Mountains are presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The 1080p reproduction is sharp-looking and preserves the natural beauty around the mountains and countryside. Mostly, the film is shot in dim-light conditions, and the transfer boasts solid blacks. The film’s palette is toned down and as a result you rarely see any bright colors. Even so, there are several sequences that have a dreamy look to them, which results in softness.  However, none of this is distracting to the viewing experience. And finally McDonough’s photography is startlingly clear in this transfer.

Audio:
The film’s sound design does not feature any background music or noises. The lossless 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track captures the serene nature of the surroundings. The dialogue is clear and crisp throughout. It is only in the climax where we hear music in the background. But other than this, “Winter’s Bone,” sonically, is a quiet affair. Also, you can view the movie in English and Spanish subtitles.

Extras:
Starting off the extras, we get an audio commentary track with director Debra Granik, and director of photography Michael McDonough. The duo recalls the tough wintry chill in the area during the filming. They present their thoughts on the sets, characters, and how they brought the book to the screen. Following this, we have a regular making-of featurette in which we see live action, auditions, and planning. Up next, we have a set of four deleted scenes. In addition, an alternate opening sequence is provided.  Next is a song, “Hardscrabble Elegy,” composed and performed by Dickon Hinchiffe. Also, included is a theatrical trailer.

Parting Thoughts:
“Winter’s Bone” will always be remembered for Jennifer Lawrence’s multilayered, marvelous performance. The interplay between Jennifer Lawrence and John Hawks is fascinating and soaked in tension. Ree’s journey takes her to the dark and unpleasant side of human nature. The story moves at a slow pace, but it is rewarding in the end. The Blu-ray edition offers superb video and audio qualities, with a number of extras. Highly recommended.

Final Rating:

Video = 9/10

Audio = 8/10

Extras = 6/10

Movie = 8/10