movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Aug 27, 2013 14:09:18 GMT -5
Last night I watched Winter's Bone (and now I want to read the book). I saw the movie mentioned on another thread (I think by oped) and I rented it from the library <<pats self on the head for being a good YMer>>
At any rate, I was truly intrigued with this movie and the way people lived. For those who haven't seen it, the story revolves around a teenage girl in the rural Ozark Mountains of Missouri. She sets out to find her missing father because he put up the family home as part of his bond. The storyline explores the poverty of people living in the area, along with the underworld of the methamphetamine labs associated with the region.
Has anyone else seen this movie or read the book? Is there anyone who lived/lives in that area? All I kept thinking the entire time I was watching this film was "shit, if I were this girl I would do just about anything to get out of that place." In the movie; however, her mother was mentally ill and she had a younger brother and sister she needed to care for. It was truly depressing...
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Aug 27, 2013 14:43:01 GMT -5
My boss has family from that area. And he said yes, people really lived like that.
I saw the movie.
Depressing lives aren't limited to rural folks, though.
I work with poor kids in an urban setting. Most of their stories aren't pretty.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Aug 27, 2013 14:54:06 GMT -5
I rented "Winter's Bone" from netflix a long time ago - before the Hunger Games came out.
After watching the movie I too thought about reading the book. I really enjoyed the movie on a variety of levels but then I tend to like 'soul sucking' movies/books/operas/etc... and this movie did just that. It was really good.
I thought the movie almost has a 'fairy tale' quality (and I don't mean in a Disney way!) or "Greek Tragedy" sort of feel to it. We get to follow Ree as she makes her Hero's Journey which doesn't really get her to any sort of heroic payoff - other than keeping her family intact atleast for the moment.
I liked the re occurring theme of 'bones' or being thrown a bone... too.
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Aug 27, 2013 15:08:05 GMT -5
I haven't seen or read it, but, as odd as it sounds, I do enjoy books about hardship and trying to find ways out of or around it. I'll put it on my growing list of movies to see/books to read. Thanks for the tip!
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Spellbound454
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"In the end, we remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends"
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Post by Spellbound454 on Aug 27, 2013 15:12:28 GMT -5
I watched it and thought it was intriguing...Sad and desperate but the young girl "Ree" had great strength of character. She was a survivor.
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Aug 27, 2013 15:38:55 GMT -5
I haven't seen or read it, but, as odd as it sounds, I do enjoy books about hardship and trying to find ways out of or around it. I'll put it on my growing list of movies to see/books to read. Thanks for the tip! Have you read Gap Creek by Robert Morgan? Talk about a book about hardship! Nothing that has happened to me compares to what this woman has endured. If I ever get whiny or feel that "life is unfair!" I think of that story and what she had to do on a daily basis and realize just how spoiled rotten I am even on my worst days. Especially in these modern times in America. It really helped me see life as it is today in a whole new way. DH wanted to watch Winter's Bones but when I saw the trailer it looked depressing to me so I didn't want to watch it.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Aug 27, 2013 15:51:32 GMT -5
I haven't seen or read it, but, as odd as it sounds, I do enjoy books about hardship and trying to find ways out of or around it. I'll put it on my growing list of movies to see/books to read. Thanks for the tip! Have you read Gap Creek by Robert Morgan? Talk about a book about hardship! Nothing that has happened to me compares to what this woman has endured. If I ever get whiny or feel that "life is unfair!" I think of that story and what she had to do on a daily basis and realize just how spoiled rotten I am even on my worst days. Especially in these modern times in America. It really helped me see life as it is today in a whole new way. DH wanted to watch Winter's Bones but when I saw the trailer it looked depressing to me so I didn't want to watch it. I just googled "Gap Creek" and holy crap that sounds depressing! Way more depressing than Winter's Bone.
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Aug 27, 2013 15:55:54 GMT -5
Have you read Gap Creek by Robert Morgan? Talk about a book about hardship! Nothing that has happened to me compares to what this woman has endured. If I ever get whiny or feel that "life is unfair!" I think of that story and what she had to do on a daily basis and realize just how spoiled rotten I am even on my worst days. Especially in these modern times in America. It really helped me see life as it is today in a whole new way. DH wanted to watch Winter's Bones but when I saw the trailer it looked depressing to me so I didn't want to watch it. I'll let ya watch Winters Bone with me though, baby !! Ahh...nevermind, it would probably be just as depressing !! LMAO!!! I'm glad I wasn't drinking anything when I read that! How YOU doin'?! Almost 40 - It wasn't really depressing though. It was well written and came out more inspirational I think. Or maybe I was in a good frame of mind when I read it. It's been years since I've read it but I sure never forgot it.
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Bob Ross
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Post by Bob Ross on Aug 27, 2013 16:04:16 GMT -5
I would think that Winters Bone would be difficult to achieve, due to shrinkage.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Aug 27, 2013 16:06:00 GMT -5
I would think that Winters Bone would be difficult to achieve, due to shrinkage.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Aug 27, 2013 16:15:43 GMT -5
It's depressing - but it's also not depressing. It has some aspects of a thriller (in a quiet sorta way) as the heroine Ree is in danger but bravely faces it. It's also about having the strength to do the 'right thing' or atleast stay true to your belief in how the world should work when everything/everyone around you isn't playing by those same rules. It's abit about family ties, poverty, dignity, and survival. The film manages to avoid sterotypes and all the characters manage to stay 'human' no matter what. It has a satisfying ending (perhaps hopeful?) it just doesn't have a sappy typical Hallmark Hall of Fame ending that it seems movies like this seem to get. There's another movie: "me you and everyone we know" which I also enjoyed - strangely it also has John Hawkes in it...
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Aug 27, 2013 16:27:40 GMT -5
It's depressing - but it's also not depressing. It has some aspects of a thriller (in a quiet sorta way) as the heroine Ree is in danger but bravely faces it. It's also about having the strength to do the 'right thing' or atleast stay true to your belief in how the world should work when everything/everyone around you isn't playing by those same rules. It's abit about family ties, poverty, dignity, and survival. The film manages to avoid sterotypes and all the characters manage to stay 'human' no matter what. It has a satisfying ending (perhaps hopeful?) it just doesn't have a sappy typical Hallmark Hall of Fame ending that it seems movies like this seem to get. There's another movie: "me you and everyone we know" which I also enjoyed - strangely it also has John Hawkes in it... One thing I really like about the movie is the fact that Ree never gives in even though most of the people around her are pretty f***king crazy. Most everyone is on drugs and/or selling drugs but she stays true to herself and is only out to help her family. It did make me hopeful that she and her siblings might eventually pull themselves out of poverty.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Aug 27, 2013 16:27:47 GMT -5
I read the book, saw the movie, AND lived in Missouri! Yeah, I guess not that many people know that MO is the meth capital of the universe. It's fairly scary/depressing/weird. And yes - when you drive through the rural Ozarks it looks JUST like that.
I read they just found a random trailer and a random dude in the Ozarks and asked if they could film inside his trailer as opposed to a set. Creepy!!!
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constanz22
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Post by constanz22 on Aug 27, 2013 18:44:36 GMT -5
I've never heard of it, but, honestly, I try to stay away from watching/reading stories like that. It feels too much like I'm at work. I'm a social worker so I see and hear depressing stuff every damn day. Most people would run screaming from what I face day in and day out, so, no, I'd prefer upbeat mindless crap on "my" time...thankyouverymuch
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Spellbound454
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Post by Spellbound454 on Aug 27, 2013 18:49:07 GMT -5
Elvis....is that you?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2013 19:23:10 GMT -5
I saw it before Hunger Games and thought the actress did a great job!, but yeah, it was really, Do people live like this? ... Like Justified...
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Aug 27, 2013 19:25:38 GMT -5
I read they just found a random trailer and a random dude in the Ozarks and asked if they could film inside his trailer as opposed to a set. Creepy!!! I watched the "features" about the making of the movie and they did say things to that effect - they left a lot of the places they used for filming as is - or with little set dressing. They also used a lot of locals - not only as extras but as secondary actors - I think both of the little kids were chosen from the local population. I have to admit the scene where Ree drops her siblings off at school and then goes and talks with the Army Recruiter stuck in my mind while watching the movie. The 'features' said the Recruiter was the actual Recruiter working that area, and that he basically did what he would do if it was an actual happening... it wasn't much scripted. Ree attempts to join the Army in an attempt to get money - she thinks her "pay' or recruitment bonus? not sure anymore which it was -- will be available to her family the day she signs up. She's getting desperate - going thru all the available/good ways to help her family... and getting money but having to leave them is certainly her 'worst case scenario" and she's at the end of her rope.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Aug 27, 2013 19:33:26 GMT -5
It's depressing - but it's also not depressing. It has some aspects of a thriller (in a quiet sorta way) as the heroine Ree is in danger but bravely faces it. It's also about having the strength to do the 'right thing' or atleast stay true to your belief in how the world should work when everything/everyone around you isn't playing by those same rules. It's abit about family ties, poverty, dignity, and survival. The film manages to avoid sterotypes and all the characters manage to stay 'human' no matter what. It has a satisfying ending (perhaps hopeful?) it just doesn't have a sappy typical Hallmark Hall of Fame ending that it seems movies like this seem to get. There's another movie: "me you and everyone we know" which I also enjoyed - strangely it also has John Hawkes in it... One thing I really like about the movie is the fact that Ree never gives in even though most of the people around her are pretty f***king crazy. Most everyone is on drugs and/or selling drugs but she stays true to herself and is only out to help her family. It did make me hopeful that she and her siblings might eventually pull themselves out of poverty. It's really sad that Ree has to remind the powerful "drug lord" that he's got some responsibility to 'family' - yeah, they killed her father to save the 'drug business' but Ree doesn't want revenge (I suspect she's struggling with the idea that maybe life is better w/o her father around) she wants a kind of justice - whatever problem they had was whith her father and it's done - she just wants some proof that her dad is dead and she's done with the "drug lords". It highlights a fine line the 'innocent' have to walk when living in such a society... Her uncle on the other hand - who is an addict feels compelled to revenge his brother's death, and at the end of the movie - it's implied he will do so (and will also probably be killed). <-- I may have that a bit wrong. it's been a long time.
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amishgal
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Post by amishgal on Aug 27, 2013 22:15:18 GMT -5
I loved the movie. Haven't read the book but read a few others by the same author, Kiss Us Goodnight was one I just read this summer.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Aug 28, 2013 8:42:11 GMT -5
I read the book, saw the movie, AND lived in Missouri! Yeah, I guess not that many people know that MO is the meth capital of the universe. It's fairly scary/depressing/weird. And yes - when you drive through the rural Ozarks it looks JUST like that. I read they just found a random trailer and a random dude in the Ozarks and asked if they could film inside his trailer as opposed to a set. Creepy!!! I know they filmed in the Forsythe area. They made a big deal about it on the news. Yes I live less than an hour from where it was filmed. I haven't seen the movie or read the book.
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