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Winter's Bone
- Review Date: June 9, 2010
- R
- Genre: Drama
- 2010
Common Sense Media says
Strong teen girl character drives grim but superb drama.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Winter's Bone -- a grim drama about a brave, resourceful 17-year-old heroine -- is not overly violent, but has a constant, simmering promise of violence, with lots of guns and threats, even toward children. Drugs and smoking are ever-present, if not always seen onscreen, since
the action is set in a drug-making community. There is strong, but not constant language, including multiple uses of "s--t" and a few uses of "f--k." Aside from the gloomy tone, however, the character of Ree is incredibly admirable, and the importance of family becomes a strong theme.
What's the story?
Seventeen year-old Ree (Jennifer Lawrence) lives in the Missouri Ozarks with her invalid mother, and is now in charge of raising her younger brother and sister. She receives word that her father, a meth "cooker," is out of jail. He has put up the family house as part of his bail bond, and if he fails to show up for his court date, they will lose the house. Ree must navigate the treacherous world of backwoods drug-makers and drug dealers, looking for clues to her father's whereabouts, facing escalating violence wherever she goes. The deeper she gets, the more she begins to realize that her father may not even be alive anymore. Only her dangerous uncle Teardrop (John Hawkes) can help, but how far can Ree trust him?
Is it any good?
Based on a 2006 novel by Daniel Woodrell, WINTER'S BONE has undertones of
detective stories, as well as gangster and cowboy stories. Director Debra Granik (Down to the Bone) has the grace to approach the film's grim material and run-down, depressing setting with genuine humanity and curiosity, and the movie offers gripping suspense and uniformly excellent performances. What looks like a wallow in poverty and desperate situations is actually a celebration of resourcefulness and the importance of family. In searching for her father, Ree finds new depths of bravery within herself.
Thankfully, these mountain men and women are not portrayed as brainless rednecks. The story plays out like a chess game; all the players have their eyes on each other's pieces, and each knows what the next move is going to be. As Ree goes deeper on her quest, her showdowns become increasingly tense and unpredictable. Though teens might not be drawn to this movie, those who take a chance and are mature enough to handle the grim tone will be rewarded with a powerful movie with a main character who defies the standard teen stereotypes.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the character of Ree. She's different from the teen characters often seen in movies -- how? Do you think her character is more or less realistic than the teens portrayed in big Hollywood movies? Do you have a preference for this grittier character, or do you prefer the fantasy of glamour that many movies offer?
Ree's community is filled with smoking and drugs and the threat of violence. How are the movie's portrayals of drugs and violence different or similar to the way they show up in other movies? Was the drug use glamorized? Did it look like these characters led appealing lifestyles? Did you recognize anything from real life in this movie?
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- Teens & kids
Teen, 15 years old
July 23, 2011
AGE
Gritty but worth watching
"Winter's Bone" is a dark and a little disturbing movie about a thriller-drama set in one of the most nastiest, hillbilly-ish places on Earth. The main character Ree, played superbly by Jennifer Lawrence, is a determined, hard-working teen set on finding her father while raising her insane mother and 2 little siblings. At one point the film gets almost unmercifully dark, but at the end things lighten up and the audience still has a shimmer of hope for Ree & her family. Definitely a movie worth checking out, if not for the fine performances of Lawrence and great supporting actor John Hawkes.
What other families should know:
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Adult
July 13, 2010
AGE
Basically a mob movie set in a rundown rural area: two clans involved in taking and making drugs. One guy gets busted and snitches on the other family so they kill him. That leaves his children to fend for themselves. The drama is the 17 year old trying to find out what happened and coming up against various nasty family members. Yes, the acting and cinematography is excellent, but the movie is bleak and depressing, despite the girl's perseverance. We care about the girl and her two siblings, but not really much and not at all about any of the rest of these people. Nothing new to learn, nothing to suggest life will change for any of these characters. Celebration of resourcefulness is way too generous and uplifting a term. The girl was resourceful only in that she didnt give up. Like watching an accident or so many of the sordid reality shows, where the only benefit is knowing your life is better. Certainly not entertaining and not much substance to consider afterward. Much ado about nothing.
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Adult
March 8, 2011
AGE
Dark, intense, and beautiful
This film features superb acting, a great role model in the lead female, and a brutally honest portrayal of Missouri drug lords. It also contains a lot of drug use, some strong language, and a little bit of heavy-impact, non-graphic violence, which limit it too mature viewers.
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Teen, 15 years old
December 10, 2010
AGE
Winter's bONE
i love this movie.
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Teen, 17 years old
December 10, 2010
AGE
It's Okay For Teens 15 And Over, But To Mature For Anything Under.
To The Kids: If You Wanna Watch This Movie Go Ahead..... To The Parents: ...But The Thing Is Parents, I Bet You Thought That I Was On The Kids' Side But To Be True I'm More On Your Side For A Simple Fact. I Believe That When Your Kid(s) Watch '' Rated-R '' And '' Unrated '' Movies, It Ought To Teach Them A Lesson To Never Watch Something In Comparison To This Movie. However Some Parents Do NOT Really Care About Their Kids' Actions, They Pay No Attention What So Ever To Their Kids. And They Sometimes Wonder '' How Did He/She End Up Living This Lifestyle?'' Letting These Children Watch A Movie Like This Is The Reason Why. So Parents Please Be AWARE Of The Things Your Children Watch, Until They're Old Enough In That Matter.?
-Thank You.
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Adult
November 22, 2010
AGE
Good for 16+, Parents should discuss with kids
Very grim but realistic film. I would let my 16 year olds see it primarily because of the strong female character Ree who takes on tremendous responsibility for a teenager because the adults in her life are unable or unwilling to do so. My only criticism is the ending which is in keeping with the relentless realism of the movie but I would like to have seen a little more uplifting tone at the end. Still - a cautionary tale, an inspirational female character. I recommend for 16 and over, with parental discussion.
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Parent of 3 year old
June 14, 2010
AGE
go for kids that is over 12
love it
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Teen, 13 years old
January 14, 2012
AGE
Intense.
Winter's Bone is grim and gritty but definitely worth watching, even though it's kind of slow. The story revolves around drug use so you can expect a lot of that. The main character Ree is played by Jennifer Lawrence, who's an excellent actress for this kind of role. Ree is a great hardworking role model. She doesn't do drugs and educates her little siblings by herself, since her mother is sick. The rest of the characters are drug addicts. The movie doesn't have that hollywood feeling to it. It very real and gritty. Also a little depressing. The language is infrequent but strong when they do say it. The acting is great. Overall it's a very dark and intense movie. 13 and up for mature kids.
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Parent
May 12, 2012
AGE
Great movie
I really, really like this show. Its story is very well written. I don't think this should have been rated R, PG-13. But parents, the language says about every word out there. And some very strong ones.
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Teen, 14 years old
October 19, 2012
AGE
good
I am 12 and loved it, but an immature 12-yr-old might make drug jokes the whole time so parents beware
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| Studio: | Roadside Attractions |
| Director: | Debra Granik |
| Cast: | Garret Dillahunt, Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 100 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 11, 2010 |
| DVD release date: | October 26, 2010 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | some drug material, language and violent content |
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