Winter's Bone (2010), Director: Debra Granik, rated R for language, violence

Everyone's got a secret

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Kevin Breznahan, Dale Dickey, Garret Dillahunt, Sheryl Lee, Tate Taylor

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"So, I guess come the nut-cutting, blood don't really mean shit to the big man. Am I understanding that right?" - Ree

Why watch this? Man, life is rough if you're poor and live in the Ozark Mountains.

Plot Summary: In the poverty-stricken Ozark Mountains, 17-year-old Ree Dolly cares for her younger siblings and mentally ill mother. When she learns their house was put up for bail by her drug-dealing father, who is now missing, she must find him before the family loses their home. Facing a community bound by a code of silence, Ree navigates treacherous terrain and confronts dangerous relatives in her desperate search for answers.

Dad's Preview: Jennifer Lawrence - damn - she can act... like "move-over-Meryl" act. Here she stars as a hard-scrabble Ozark teen, Ree Dolly, who is trying to find her missing father to keep from being evicted. She also has to care for her two younger siblings and mentally ill mother. In desperation, she starts asking questions. There is resistance from everyone, especially her hillbilly relatives. These tight-lipped folks (because of nearby meth labs) don't like questions, even from family. Lawrence simply dominates the screen as she fights, completely alone, to keep her family safe.  

Anonymous Content; Winter's Bone Productions; Roadside Attractions