From the Pompous Thomas 2010 Review Backlog!Winter's Bone is one of those movies that deserves a lot more attention than it received when it was first in theaters. It was without a doubt the best movie I saw this summer (including that flashy one about all the dreams and everything) and I'm sure that come Oscar season it will be nominated for (but ultimately ignored for) a number of awards that it totally deserves.
I'm not sure why, but this one reminds me of last year's An Education. They certainly have nothing in common in terms of setting or plot, but they both rock some hardcore awesome acting, especially from a young unknown female lead. Set amidst hillbilly gangsters of the Ozarks, this is a detective thriller that would be far too much for the likes of Nancy Drew. These hillbillies are a suspicious and cowardly lot, and as our young heroine traverses the Ozarks searching for her missing father, she meets a fantastic collection of scoundrels and ne'er-do-wells. These are portrayed in an ambiguous way such that you never can tell if they're going to help or harm the poor girl. Oftentimes they do both.
Cost/Benefit Analysis: Worth full price. It's a beautiful, brutal movie that deserves every dollar and minute it asks of you.
Nerdy post script: Two actors from Deadwood! Always a good thing.
Obvious porn parody titles: Wiener Bone, Win Her Bone Her and Winner's Bone.
