John A Massie's Review

Summary - Great 4.0

Brutal but realistic. Intense but downplayed. Winter’s Bone is at heart a noir about a girl who is asked to do far more than a person in her situation ever should have to. Its finds an almost unique and very interesting setting with which to let the dark morality play unfurl and builds to an absolutley brutal climax. The characters, and the film itself, manage to be believably real yet well beyond cliche.

This film will probably end up being a little over hyped, but is at heart an interesting crime drama well told and well worth watching.

Acting - Perfect 5.0

Film - Really Great 4.5

Edge - Sordid 3.2

Theres only a handfull of actually violent scenes but the threat of violence lingers around most scenes. A lot of the edge is implied, not shown or even acted upon, but still very much present.

Reality - Natural 1.0

2 Comments

• Wick Jan 11, 2011 9:44PM

  Regarding BrianSez’s Review
  Happy to see yet another Winter’s Bone fan, Bri. Like you, I thought it was very good, not great. Interestingly, many professional reviewers have it on their Best Movies of 2010 list. Even though I liked it a lot, it didn’t make mine.

• Wick Aug 15, 2010 7:51AM

  Regarding John A Massie’s Review
  Happy to see another Winter’s Bone fan, Massie. Interesting take, per usual from you. Only surprise is that you didn’t single out Jennifer Lawrence, who seems bound to be a huge star.

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