My goal of 120 films watched this year isn’t looking like something I can get to. I’ve got just about a month to watch 30 films. Erm. Yeah, even with the Christmas season, somehow I don’t think this will happen! How on EARTH did I manage it last year?!
Winter’s Bone (27/11/11)
An unflinching Ozark Mountain girl hacks through dangerous social terrain as she hunts down her drug-dealing father while trying to keep her family intact.
Winter’s Bone is a good film. Though it’s not exactly enjoyable to watch. It’s bloody depressing! Watching a 17 year old girl look after her entire family while trying to deal with a whole heap of those unsavory lot while trying to find her father.
Jennifer Lawrence is great in the film. She’s got the entire film on her shoulders and she does a brilliant job. She’s one determined teenager.
Why did I only give this film a 3/5? I thought it was a good film, it just lacked something for me. A great performance from Jennifer Lawrence wasn’t quite enough. Needed something else. I don’t know what it is though! If I think of it I’ll let you know.
Rating: 3/5
Read on to see the entire list of movies seen this year so far:
92 Movies so far this Year
- The Horse Whisperer 3/5 (01/01/11)
- The Informant! 3/5 (09/01/11)
- The Fighter 4/5 (11/01/11)
- 127 Hours 5/5 (14/01/11)
- The Wolfman 3/5 (15/01/11)
- Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story 4/5 (16/01/11)
- The King’s Speech 5/5 (19/01/11)
- The Town 4/5 (20/01/11)
- Ninja Assassin 2/5 (24/01/11)
- He’s Just Not That Into You 1/5 (25/01/11)
- Imagine That 1/5 (27/01/11)
- Gentlemen Broncos 2/5 (04/02/11)
- Hachi: A Dog’s Tale 4/5 (06/02/11)
- Daybreakers 3/5 (12/02/11)
- The Book of Eli 2/5 (13/02/11)
- True Grit 4/5 (15/02/11)
- Red 1/5 (19/02/11)
- Invictus 3/5 (20/02/11)
- Coraline 2/5 (28/02/11)
- Juno 3/5 (02/03/11)
- Monsters vs. Aliens 1/5 (06/03/11)
- Jennifer’s Body 2/5 (06/03/11)
- Rango 4/5 (09/03/11)
- The Crazies 4/5 (11/03/11)
- Lakeview Terrace 1/5 (12/03/11)
- Battle: Los Angeles 3/5 (13/03/11)
- Submarine 4/5 (14/03/11)
- The Adjustment Bureau 2/5 (16/03/11)
- Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief 2/5 (18/03/11)
- The Happening 1/5 (19/03/11)
- Sucker Punch 2/5 (02/04/11)
- Carriers 1/5 (03/04/11)
- Source Code 4/5 (06/04/11)
- 3:10 to Yuma 3/5 (09/04/11)
- Walking Tall 1/5 (12/04/11)
- Your Highness 3/5 (13/04/11)
- El Mariachi 3/5 (14/03/11)
- From Paris With Love 3/5 (15/04/11)
- Scream 4 3/5 (16/04/11)
- Hot Tub Time Machine 2/5 (17/04/11)
- Attack the Block 4/5 (20/04/11)
- The International 2/5 (23/04/11)
- Thor 5/5 (25/04/11)
- Fast & Furious 5: Rio Heist 5/5 (28/04/11)
- A Beautiful Mind 4/5 (06/05/11)
- Extract 2/5 (05/05/11)
- Hanna 4/5 (06/05/11)
- Catfish 3/5 (07/05/11)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides 2/5 (20/05/11)
- The Hangover Part II 3/5 (27/05/11)
- How to Train Your Dragon 4/5 (28/05/11)
- Zodiac 4/5 (28/05/11)
- Up in the Air 5/5 (30/05/11)
- X-Men: First Class 4/5 (01/06/11)
- Electra Luxx 3/5 (04/06/11)
- The Usual Suspects 5/5 (05/06/11)
- Senna 5/5 (10/06/11)
- The Human Centipede 1/5 (10/06/11)
- Green Lantern 2/5 (17/06/11)
- Paul 3/5 (18/06/11)
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon 4/5 (29/06/11)
- Predators 2/5 (30/07/11)
- Captain America: The First Avenger 3/5 (31/07/11)
- Super 8 5/5 (11/08/11)
- The Secret in Their Eyes 5/5 (13/08/11)
- [Rec] 2 3/5 (14/08/11)
- Rise of the Planet of the Apes 4/5 (16/08/11)
- Cowboys & Aliens 4/5 (18/08/11)
- Final Destination 5 4/5 (19/08/11)
- Micmacs 3/5 (21/08/11)
- Conan the Barbarian 3/5 (27/08/11)
- Legion 1/5 (27/08/11)
- Limitless 3/5 (29/08/11)
- Apollo 18 1/5 (02/09/11)
- The Warriors 4/5 (04/09/11)
- Ondine 3/5 (07/09/11)
- TrollHunter 5/5 (09/09/11)
- Burke & Hare 2/5 (16/09/11)
- Jackass 3 3/5 (16/09/11)
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 5/5 (23/09/11)
- Drive 4/5 (28/09/11)
- Don’t be Afraid of the Dark 4/5 (12/10/11)
- Paranormal Activity 3 3/5 (21/10/11)
- I Am Number Four 3/5 (23/10/11)
- Contagion 3/5 (25/10/11)
- The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn 4/5 (27/10/11)
- The Thing 4/5 (29/10/11)
- The Ides of March 5/5 (01/11/11)
- In Time 3/5 (02/11/11)
- The Rum Diary 2/5 (11/11/11)
- Easy A 4/5 (26/11/11)
- Winter’s Bone 3/5 (27/11/11)
I don’t know what it was for me but there was just something here that was lacking with this film and even though the performances from Lawrence and Hawkes were good, they couldn’t totally take my mind off the fact that this film lacked some real tension. Good review Jaina.
That’s exactly it. Huge lack of tension and desperation. They should have played on her situation a bit more and really emphasise how utterly alone she was.
I’ve seen this film and I agree with you, depressing. But it is a gripping drama and I was relieved how things worked out in the end. I did not like that Hawkes did not play a more significant role. I think his talent was wasted in this film. But overall, I was able to enjoy nonetheless.
Hawkes was definitely underused.
I havent seen this one. But even though it got nominated for an Oscar, I was thinking about doing an “Under the Radar” blurb about it.
I TRY to save those for really good movies though… unlike a lot of other stuff, I treat those as like “recommendations”…
Is this a good pick?
Hmm, it’s a film with a couple of solid performances but I don’t think I could go as far to say it being an all round good film. Doesn’t quite capture that title…
I saw this the other week as well. I liked it a little more than you (gave it a 7.5) but i can see why people would be underwhelmed by it, i was slightly disappointed myself. It’s definitely a slow burner. I was never bored though, the main character is pretty inspirational.
She’s definitely an inspirational character. I never once doubted that she’d be able to do what she was trying to do. If only more 17 year olds were so tenacious!