Sundance 2010 'Winter's Bone' review (5/5)

Jennifer Lawrence in 'Winter's Bone'

Filmmaker Debra Granik can claim credit for launching the career of actress Vera Farmiga via her 2004 film "Down to the Bone" and if there's justice in the specialty film biz the same will happen with newcomer Jennifer Lawrence. Granik reveals confidence and skill with her deep-in-the-Ozarks thriller "Winter's Bone". More importantly, she introduces Lawrence as an amazing talent capable of holding up a taut drama on her petite shoulders. Winning the Grand Jury Prize in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, "Winter's Bone" remains the critical break-out of the fest.  
While grim in parts and often challenging to watch, Roadside Attractions will enjoy incredible word-of-mouth when it opens "Winter's Bone" in specialty theaters later this year.

17-year-old Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) battles kin and her backwoods Missouri community to find out what happened to her missing father. Ree's father runs a crystal meth lab (instead of the moonshine still operated by previous generations) and he's due to appear in court on bail. If he does not show, the Dollys will lose their house. Caring for her two young siblings and frail mother, Ree takes it upon herself to find her father and save the family home.

Granik first made her reputation with "Down to the Bone", a low- budget drama about a single mother struggling to hold on to her kids while battling cocaine addiction. Fame came faster to "Down to the Bone" lead Farmiga but Granik looks to get her due with "Winter's Bone", the better of the two excellent films.

Granik and co-writer Anne Rosellini adapt Daniel Woodrell's 2007 novel (jointly earning a screenwriting award at Sundance) and capture the pervasive sense of menace and all the colorful details from Woodrell's story. Granik also puts the spotlight on a slice of America seldom seen in movies; showing the impact on a community when poverty goes back multiple generations.

Cameraman Michael McDonough balances the beauty of the Ozark countryside with the ramshackle houses of Ree and her kin. Authentic rural dialect, great use of local music and non-actors all play a role in bringing Ree's journey to life. Stil, the standout achievement for the film revolves around Lawrence's steely performance as a teen who will go to any lengths to save her mom and siblings from the sins of her criminal father.

Granik was first predicted for greatness six years ago upon the release of her "Down to the Bone" and now, thanks to her powerful sophomore feature "Winter's Bone", she becomes an indie talent to celebrate.

Seldom has a director delivered two extraordinary movies at the start of the career; especially with such a long gap in-between the two movies. Maybe, for Granik, it's a matter of good things happening for those who wait.

Distributor: Roadside Attractions
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Dale Dickey and Sheryl Lee
Director: Debra Granik
Screenwriter: Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini, from the novel by Daniel Woodrell
Cinematographer: Michael McDonough
Editor: Affonso Gonçalves
Producers: Anonymous Content and Winter's Bone Productions Running Time: 100 min
Rating: TBD

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