Well if you thought your life was tough: no money, boss is mean, family drives you crazy, can't stop drinking beer, hey! try moving to the Ozarks where searching for your dad's bones or pushing meth is the locals' solution to a hard days work. Crashing down on the bleak terrain with such powerful force it may just win her an Oscar, Jennifer Lawrence owns her role like a lioness with her teeth in the deer (or in this case, squirrel). Somewhat of a lost daddy's girl, Ree Dolly (Lawrence) is sadly slated to take over her mother's role as caretaker and suddenly has a new responsibility; find her dad or lose her home. Standing in her way is the fearless, the great, the unstoppable (my hero) John Hawkes as Teardrop Dolly. What can I say about John Hawkes? He owns it. Ferociously, but at the same time underneath the exterior of a meth head killer, he remains vulnerable and loving somehow all the while terrifying and cruel. John Hawkes steps up to fill the place of the greatest character actors of all time (including Pete Postlethwaite, post posthumous shout out to this unearthly talented man) and its only soon before he will be stepping up to the podium to collect his well deserved statue. For me though, the standout of this movie was Dale Dickey as Merab, a hard ass meth man's wifey. Oh Dale Dickey, with a face like (gosh please excuse me when I say) a crackhead and the chops of a Python. Sadly I believe she will go unnoticed at all the over hyped award ceremonies but I wouldn't just yet start to feeling bad for her. Dickey is another character actress who's got her foot in the door of all the great casting agents in town. You may have seen her in My Name is Earl or Breaking Bad but you have never seen anything like her performance in Winters Bone. Cold-hearted killer, she ain't nothing like the sisters I grew up with. Terrifying is her turn in this movie, perhaps the biggest obstacle and ironically the stepping stone to solving Ree's Problem and who in her own way lends a helping hand (get it?). Of course it's the beautifully intricate writing that is the road for this brilliant vehicle (Dickey) driving the plot and drama. You sorta love her from the minute you meet her, claws and coffee out (see the film, you'll understand.)
Winter's Bone was directed by Debra Granik, who's feminine touch is needed with the vulnerability and fragility of each character including the men but who also has the hard ass masculine tone of cowboy Clint Eastwood. If you like movies with great stories and great actors and well who doesn't, see this indie gem. I'd watch Winters Bone if you need a better outlook on your life. Be happy it's the valley and not the damn Ozarks.
<3
ReplyDelete