Winter's Bone Dir. Deborah Granik
Feat. Jennifer Lawrence (Ree Dolly), John Hawkes (Teardrop), and Garrett Dillahunt (Sheriff)
Roadshow Pictures, 2010
On June 11, 2010, the debut of Winter's Bone occurred. With an absent and missing father and a withdrawn and depressed mother, 17 year-old Ree Dolly keeps her family together in the dirt poor rural Ozarks. She then faces a life changing conflict when the local Sheriff Baskin tells her that her father, Jessup put up their house as collateral for his bail and unless he shows up for his trial by next week, they will lose it all. Having prior knowledge that her father is involved in the local drug trade and manufactures crystal meth, she goes on a hunt for him. However, everywhere she goes the message is the same: stay out of it and stop poking your nose in other people's business. She refuses to abide, even after her father's brother, Teardrop, tells her he's probably been killed. She continues, putting her own life at risk, for the sake of her family until the truth, or enough of it, is revealed.
The film commonly know as the adaptation of Daniel Woodrell's 2006 novel, presents many moments that drew my attention for analysis. As the film's opening scene begins with a lone women singer and dull color pallet, it gave prior insight as to the tone of the film. It told me the movie would be slow paced as well as a reference to the setting, country area in the woods. As the movie continues, we are then presented with Ree Dolly giving her horse up to her neighbor to take and nurture as she is incapable of doing so due to lack of funds. This was our first encounter with I presume to be her guardian angel or mother figure. Another but ironic guardian angel of Ree’s is her very own Uncle, Teardrop. When are was jumped by Alice and her two sisters, and taken to the barn, Teardrop was the one to send her free. During that scene it was set up as a one versus many duel, however there was a sense of Teardrop having the leverage. The reason for my analysis is that there was intimidation and fear of the many. Even as Thump’s posse being armed while Teardrop was vulnerable, they still feared upon the man.
One theme we discussed before and during the critical viewing of this film is that of norms and taboos. It is evident that dealing with narcotics is the norm to make money and survive in Ozarks of Missouri. Another norm that is repeatedly stated to Ree Dolly is to not poke your nose into anybody's business, however, as stubborn as Ree Dolly is she commits a taboo. Constantly breaking this rule. even after her uncle Teardrop (played by John Hawkes) reveals that he might have been murdered. Ree confronts this local norm and becomes a strong female protagonist through that and her ability to raise her siblings on her own. She also acts as the provider of the house which is traditionally the man of the household, however have a non-responsive mother and a missing father, she must fill that void. This can be seen through many occasions throughout the film, from Ree chopping the wood, providing food on her siblings plate, holding all responsibility for the household, and importantly finding a solution to the big issue. I would describe her as the black sheep or taboo of the movie as she opposes many of the neighborhood's norms and wishes. Another norm that was prevalent is that men are held more superior than women. This is seem in multiple occasions from Teardrop commanding orders from his wife and choking Ree Dolly for not listening and wanting to risk her life for answers.
One scene throughout the movie that caught my eye was the short black and white clip of the squirrel and birds in the woods, with chainsaws echoing, as they cut down the trees. This presented symbolism. The chainsaws cutting down the trees, are taking away the squirrels and bird home from them leaving them to in a corner of vulnerability. This can be seen as Ree Dolly and her family as the animals and the Justice system and bailsman as the chainsaw slowly chipping away at their home as time progresses slowly leaving them with nothing but vulnerable.
For the closing scene, when Teardrop comes to a realization of who Jessup Dolly’s killer is, it lead to much speculation. Personally, I feel that Teardrop himself had kilt his own brother. I say this because The neck tattoo that he had looks to be the mark of Cain, linking back to one of the oldest stories of fratricidal jealousy. It may explain why Teardrop, has a volatile and ruthless nature. This helps explain how Ree recognizes this truth at the end of the film by offering Jessup's banjo to Teardrop to keep, which he then briefly picks and hands back, saying his brother was always better. As he leaves Ree's porch, Teardrop then claims he knows the killer after all.
The film commonly know as the adaptation of Daniel Woodrell's 2006 novel, presents many moments that drew my attention for analysis. As the film's opening scene begins with a lone women singer and dull color pallet, it gave prior insight as to the tone of the film. It told me the movie would be slow paced as well as a reference to the setting, country area in the woods. As the movie continues, we are then presented with Ree Dolly giving her horse up to her neighbor to take and nurture as she is incapable of doing so due to lack of funds. This was our first encounter with I presume to be her guardian angel or mother figure. Another but ironic guardian angel of Ree’s is her very own Uncle, Teardrop. When are was jumped by Alice and her two sisters, and taken to the barn, Teardrop was the one to send her free. During that scene it was set up as a one versus many duel, however there was a sense of Teardrop having the leverage. The reason for my analysis is that there was intimidation and fear of the many. Even as Thump’s posse being armed while Teardrop was vulnerable, they still feared upon the man.
One theme we discussed before and during the critical viewing of this film is that of norms and taboos. It is evident that dealing with narcotics is the norm to make money and survive in Ozarks of Missouri. Another norm that is repeatedly stated to Ree Dolly is to not poke your nose into anybody's business, however, as stubborn as Ree Dolly is she commits a taboo. Constantly breaking this rule. even after her uncle Teardrop (played by John Hawkes) reveals that he might have been murdered. Ree confronts this local norm and becomes a strong female protagonist through that and her ability to raise her siblings on her own. She also acts as the provider of the house which is traditionally the man of the household, however have a non-responsive mother and a missing father, she must fill that void. This can be seen through many occasions throughout the film, from Ree chopping the wood, providing food on her siblings plate, holding all responsibility for the household, and importantly finding a solution to the big issue. I would describe her as the black sheep or taboo of the movie as she opposes many of the neighborhood's norms and wishes. Another norm that was prevalent is that men are held more superior than women. This is seem in multiple occasions from Teardrop commanding orders from his wife and choking Ree Dolly for not listening and wanting to risk her life for answers.
One scene throughout the movie that caught my eye was the short black and white clip of the squirrel and birds in the woods, with chainsaws echoing, as they cut down the trees. This presented symbolism. The chainsaws cutting down the trees, are taking away the squirrels and bird home from them leaving them to in a corner of vulnerability. This can be seen as Ree Dolly and her family as the animals and the Justice system and bailsman as the chainsaw slowly chipping away at their home as time progresses slowly leaving them with nothing but vulnerable.
For the closing scene, when Teardrop comes to a realization of who Jessup Dolly’s killer is, it lead to much speculation. Personally, I feel that Teardrop himself had kilt his own brother. I say this because The neck tattoo that he had looks to be the mark of Cain, linking back to one of the oldest stories of fratricidal jealousy. It may explain why Teardrop, has a volatile and ruthless nature. This helps explain how Ree recognizes this truth at the end of the film by offering Jessup's banjo to Teardrop to keep, which he then briefly picks and hands back, saying his brother was always better. As he leaves Ree's porch, Teardrop then claims he knows the killer after all.
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