Winter's Bone

Movie review by Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media
Winter's Bone Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Strong teen girl character drives grim but superb drama.

R 2010 100 minutes
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 7 reviews

Kids say

age 14+

Based on 7 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Stands out for .

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.

Community Reviews

Foxsmum
Foxsmum Adult
September 1, 2020
age 15+

Girl has extended family from hell

It's a very good but extremely BLEAK movie. Jennifer Lawerance does an excellent job as the teenager forced to take care of her family because her dad's run off and her mother is mentally checked out. (echos of the hunger games...she has to hunt their food and Katniss's mother also checked out for awhile). The movie is unrelentingly bleak and sad. What she goes through is almost unwatchable. This movie was excellent but I would never want to watch it a second time.
James Hedrick
James Hedrick Adult
August 23, 2020
age 16+

Return to when Movies were Simple and Great

Debra Granik is a masterful filmmaker, creating stunningly simple films of naturalist beauty. Winter's Bone is one such and is easily among my top five favorite films of all time. Jennifer Lawrence gives one of her earliest and best performances delivering raw emotion and a powerful and lasting impression. She is surly one of the 21st century's finest actresses and her work following this movie proves that. John Hawk also delivers a memorable performance which earned him an Oscar nomination along with Jennifer Lawrence for the same film. The film earns its R rating with some infrequent harsh language including f*ck, sh*t, a few sexual terms and one use of motherf*cker. The chainsaw scene is quite intense, though not much is seen. The very real threat of violence brings a sense of tension to the film throughout however and drug use, manufacture and sale is a major story element. As to representations and character role models Ree is a strong and determined young woman who will sacrifice much to help her family and shows great compassion and strength of will throughout. Teardrop, though not exactly admirable, does show a kind of rugged affection to Ree and her young siblings and is at heart a good man. Winter's Bone is well written, well acted, with beautiful cinematography and a strong story. I fully recommend this film to anyone who appreciates truly quality film making. That said, its slow, quiet rural environment, though welcomed by me, my bore some viewers who prefer faster and more stylized movies.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 7 parent reviews

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?

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. The movie also 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. Based on a 2006 novel by Daniel Woodrell, WINTER'S BONE has undertones of detective stories, as well as gangster and cowboy stories.

Thankfully, the mountain men and women in this movie 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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • 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?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love movies about growing up

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