Winter's Bone

“Winter’s Bone” with perfected acting, script and everything in between grabs the audience and with frozen realism keeps them in their seats. “Winter’s Bone” is available on DVD and Blu-ray by Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment.

Seventeen year-old Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) takes care of everything, her two younger siblings Sonny (Isaiah Stone) and Ashlee (Ashlee Thompson) and her not-all-there mother. Then one day the “law” rides in and tells her that her father, a crystal meth maker, put all their property on his bail. If her Dad fails to show at court, they will lose it all. Ree then decides to look for her father.

However, this proves to be more difficult than it appears for as she asks around, she threatens to break the code of silence within her own family. In this family, the blood is thick, but the Dollys are not afraid to spill that blood to maintain the status quo.

“Winter’s Bone” is real and the acting is as well. The actors are not big flashy movie stars, they look and act like real people. The acting is strong and gritty and in this film that is the only way it can work.

The many members in the Dolly family are genuinely portrayed, even if most of them are unlikable characters. However, it is often confusing on who’s who and how everyone is related, but these are minor details that eventually work themselves out.

Ree’s uncle Teardrop (John Hawkes) has one of the best performances. He is tough and often hostile to Ree, but he acts that way so she won’t dig any further. When she does, he is there to help her, but his motives are often unclear. Audiences are unsure whether he is a “good guy” or a “bad guy”. All these are acted out perfectly by Hawkes who gives an undaunted, gripping and flawless performance.

Lawrence is especially stunning and strong. Her character is brave, unwavering in her fight for answers and her home and is smart in how she deals with her dangerous relations. Ree also has many burdens to carry in taking care of her siblings and mother and without a lot of money to do it with.

In one scene she begs her mother, with tears rolling down her face, to help her, but her mother just stares blankly off into space. Ree then realizes that she won’t receive any help. Lawrence displays these traits with an incomparable authenticity.

Due to Ree’s strength and courage also makes her connect well with the audience, who cheer her on. Audiences want her to win, and that desire keeps their interest in the film. The film is also moved by the perfected acting.

The script (Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini based on the book Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell) is also faultless with heavy, intense and relentless plot and dialogue that fails to shy away from the truths of the dark secrets of the Dolly life. It also fails to distract the audience with unnecessary violence and gore, but prefers to keep it real.

The cinematography and lighting (Michael McDonough and Alan Pierce) is also striking, showing audience not just the characters, but also the setting, the backwoods of the Ozarks. The lighting adds the drama in “Winter’s Bone” since it is often dark, only lit by refrigerator light or flashlight. The film is not big-budget in these areas, but that makes them fit all the better with the overall feel of the film.

“Winter’s Bone” also has an interesting score because it has none. Other than a song in the beginning, middle and end there is no music. Once again this only adds to the drama, since without a score, audiences don’t know what to think about certain situations without the music to direct their emotions. It also adds that feel of realism, since in real life there is no score.

“Winter’s Bone” is perfectly creates a sense that this is a real story. The people act and look like people in everyday life. The homes look like real homes that everyday people live in. It feels like someone plopped a camera in the middle of Ree’s life. “Winter’s Bone” also has a cold feeling, from both the feel of the film and also the characters. The cold sense reaches out to the audience and chills them to the bone.

The Dolly family reunion is not one that most people would want to be a part of; however, “Winter’s Bone” makes it one that is inescapable. From acting, script, cinematography it is all absolute perfection especially considering the film’s Oscar buzz. “Winter’s Bone” proves to be a film that is not one to miss this year.

Movie Theater Rules

Due my job as film critic of The Pathfinder I go to movies a lot and as just a normal human, I go to movies a lot. In all my movie going experiences I have noticed some people don’t know (or don’t understand) proper movie attending behavior. In attempt to stop these horrible infractions I will explain the unwritten rules of movie theaters in hope the movie watching experience will be better for everyone involved.

The first thing that one does at the theater is buy the ticket. Most of the time this is not a problem, but I did have one experience where an elderly lady could not remember the title of what she wanted to watch. She then began to describe the film with the words, “the one that’s supposed to be real scary” and she was directed to the right movie (I think).

The problem with this is that, number one, when you don’t remember what movie you’re going to it holds up the line which doesn’t make people happy. Number two, it does make people question your intelligent or your capability to remember a simple movie title. Number three, when you describe the movie with adjectives such as, “the one that’s supposed to be real scary” be prepared to end watching the wrong “one that supposed to be scary.” To avoid all this is simple; remember what movie you want to see.

After purchasing their ticket most people buy popcorn, candy, pop or other sugary not-so-good-for-you treats. I have no problem with this, particularly because without it the theater would not be in existence. However, unlike what most people apparently think you can eat your popcorn quietly. I know it’s difficult to comprehend, but trust me, it is possible. The popcorn will digested at the same rate regardless if you chomp it with the same ferocity as a dinosaur or a chipmunk. I also understand that you want to get your money’s worth out of your sugary soft-drink but you when you noisily slurp up you can be certain that everyone in the theater is no longer thinking about the antagonist in the movie because you are now the enemy of the audience.

When you go to the local theater in Lewiston you have to keep in mind one thing, Lewiston is in Idaho. This is important because Idahoans have bubbles, and those bubbles are the size of the state itself. So when you are choosing your seats there has to be at least one empty seat in between you and the stranger next to you. This rule must be followed even if it means that instead of sitting in the first row you sit in the second. If you don’t follow this rule, the person next you will think you’re the craziest creeper in the world and quite possibly will move. However, this rule only applies to Idaho.

Cell phones have become a big issue with movies. The rule, turn it off or at least on silent. Oh, and vibrate is not silent. Silent doesn’t make a noise, vibrate does. When a goes off on vibrate, despite what you make think, the whole theater hears it. Then when you open your phone it gives a glow that says, “I’m the annoying person who doesn’t turn off his/her cell phone and now you all hate me don’t you?” The answer is yes and when you look up from your phone the audience will glaring viciously at you.

Theaters have been nice enough to tell the audience when to be quiet signaled by when the lights go down, a subtle way of telling people, “Shut up!” If only people took the hint. Now the first thing that comes when the lights goes down is the trailers. Personally I don’t mind talking, between trailers because when most people talk between or during the trailers, it’s something short along the lines of, “I want to see that movie.” That’s fine. What I don’t appreciate is when the trailers are playing and the movie is starting and your still talking about Uncle Harry’s colonoscopy, I came to watch and listen to a movie not your uncle’s medical history.

One cannot talk about the movies without discussing children. Here’s my take on kids; kids go to kid movies. Simple right? Eh, maybe not because I’ve discovered that for some reason people think that “Easy A” and “The Social Network” are kid’s movies, maybe it’s just my narrow-minded view on what kids can understand and enjoy. Here’s a tip on how to decide what’s appropriate for little Johnny.

There’s this cool thing called the MPAA rating system that classifies (although it can be flawed I’ll admit) movies based on how fitting the movie is for your kindergartener. G means it’s okay. PG means …eh maybe. PG-13 not for Johnny. R really we’re serious this ain’t for your kid. Oh and please, please, please don’t make the mistake of thinking that every animated movie is suitable for your child, there is no rule that says, “Thou shalt make all animated films children’s movies.”

This doesn’t mean you can’t watch the movie, it just means that Johnny shouldn’t. There are ways to watch movies not at movie theaters, like renting them from Redbox or Netflix, it’s cheaper and you can watch it when Johnny asleep.

Also, if you’re going to go to a kid’s movie on a Saturday afternoon, don’t complain about the kids. You’re at a movie for kids you better expect there will be kids, if you don’t like it, go at different time.

One last thing, be nice to the theater people. They work there, it’s their job I’m sure they would much rather be watching the movie with you or doing something else that is more fun than work, so don’t make it more miserable for them. Also if you need an opinion on a movie (other than reading The Pathfinder) ask them. They over-hear all the conversations as people leave the theater, including what people thought of the movie.

So next time you’re at the theater remember these rules so that other people can have a good time at the movies other than just you.

Unstoppable

The plot is as fast as the runaway train, “Unstoppable” proves to be a movie that audiences won’t want to stop watching, just as the title suggests.

Will Colson (Chris Pine) receives more than he bargained for on his first day of work at a Pennsylvania railroad company. First of all, the relationship with him and his partner, engineer Frank Barnes (Denzel Washington) doesn’t start out well. Then due to an unfortunate human error an unmanned train at 70 miles an hour carrying combustible fuel and toxic chemicals is heading right toward them.

Barely escaping disaster, Frank decides to go after the train which is heading straight toward the highly populated city of Stanton. Will, reluctant at first, accompanies Frank to stop the seemingly unstoppable.

As soon as the initial credits start rolling, so does the plot in “Unstoppable”. It draws audiences in almost immediately and continues as the movie progresses.

The script (Mark Bomback) as a whole is suspenseful. Audiences are constantly sitting on the edge of their seats as plan after plan is executed to stop the train. The suspense in the movie is also laid out well; not ending too fast and not drawing the ending out too slow either.

The length of the scenes also fit the pace of the movie due to great editing (Robert Duffy and Chris Lebenzon). During more intense parts in the movie, the scenes, cut and shift fast. The transitions occur smoothly instead of giving the movie a choppy feel. There are also times where news reports are used to help show and tell the story, which provides audiences with a point of view other than the main characters.

The acting by Washington and Pine is adequate. A movie like “Unstoppable” doesn’t necessarily need incomparable acting because the plot drives the movie, not acting. However, the acting displayed in the movie, was good enough that audiences felt convinced of the actors fear and concern. In some movies like this, actors become real “shouty” trying to show their fear; however, actors in “Unstoppable” failed to do so. They displayed their emotion through their expressions and tone of voice which made “Unstoppable” seem a touch more real and less obnoxious.

There were also some funny and friendly interactions between Frank and Will that lightened up the tone of the movie. It also made it seem like they were two guys working together, rather than two actors shooting a movie.

“Unstoppable” also provided audiences with well-shot cinematography (Ben Seresin). The camera is constantly swooping over the runaway train, showing viewers the next target of the attack. It also gives a side perspective; audiences see flashes of the train through trees and houses, which demonstrates just how fast the train is moving.

The sound effects (Thomas Giordano, Shawn Holden and William B. Kaplan) are incredible. It’s loud, of course, due to noise of the trains but it sounds so real. The sounds makes it feel like audiences have left their seats and are standing next to tracks as the train whizzes past. At times, even the seats vibrate a little, which makes “Unstoppable” a great movie to see in theaters to get the full effect of the powerful sound.

“Unstoppable” contains a thrilling, fast-paced plot that will keep movie-goers attentions, especially added with thundering sounds of trains and explosions. “Unstoppable” proves to be a well-made —though not absolutely perfect— movie that will certainly entertain audiences.

Unknown

Although, “Unknown” maintains the audience’s attention, as the plot twists and turns it ends up just being the most bizarre case of stolen identity.

Dr. Martin Harris (Liam Neeson) travels to Berlin for a biotechnology summit with his wife Liz (January Jones). When they arrive at the hotel Martin realizes that he left his briefcase at the airport. He hops into the nearest taxi to go back to the airport. On the way there he gets into a car accident and resulting in a head injury and a four day coma.

When he wakes up Martin wants to return to his wife but when he does she fails to recognize him, and without his papers he has no way of identifying himself. Liz is also with another man (Aidan Quinn) claiming to be Martin Harris. Left alone in a city that has forgotten him, Martin must find a way to prove his identity and also fight his own doubts of who he is.

The plot definitely grabs the audience’s attention as Martin runs around Berlin trying to piece together his life. The audience keeps guessing how it will piece together. There are also obstacles as men follow him around trying to kill him which results in many adrenalin rushing car chases.

The car chases (and a few on foot chases) fail to slow down the plot or even run too long like many car chases do. It helps keep the suspense and adds more questions for the audience and Martin and they both wonder, “Why is this happening?” Other action scenes have fist fights as Martin continuously tries not to be killed, which also adds rather than detracts to the plot.

The film stays true to the thriller-suspense genre and reveals a little at a time allowing the audience to solve the mystery only as fast as Martin can. It fails to reveal too much too fast. The ending comes timely not to soon but not too late.

However, the ending proves to also be the downfall of the movie. Although I cannot discuss it in detail, I will say that it was completely unexpected, in a not-good way. It is unrealistic to the point of being completely unbelievable and since it twists so fast, so unexpectedly with no clues throughout the rest of the movie that this was coming. It’s almost as if they mixed up the ending with another movie.

Although the ending for “Unknown” is unbelievable Neeson’s performance as Martin Harris is not. The characters determination and unswerving desire to find out what has happened is displayed by Neeson. He also gives the character emotion as well when Martin begins to doubt that he is Martin Harris. Neeson gives a good between action and emotion, both of which are necessary for his character.

Unfortunately, the rest of the cast is just mediocre. Many of the character are merely unexciting and unconvincing, especially since only Martin’s character is truly developed and the supporting characters are there for just that, support (and they fail to do that well also). However, perhaps a stronger foundation of characters would have helped “Unknown” not fall apart as much.

Part of the reason for the boring characters is due to most of the dialogue being dull and uninspiring, not to mention some pretty cheesy lines. Also, audiences may grow tired of Martin’s constant, “I am Dr. Martin Harris!”

Another, fault of the movie is that even though Martin is in Berlin and does not speak German, everyone he meets (that can help him in his identity search) conveniently speaks English. How nice.

“Unknown” has some strong points, but it also has some weak points and in this case it’s places where weakness is not good. However, it’s not a total disappointment. If anything the title is fitting because by the end of the movie it’s the plot that is unknown.

True Grit

“True Grit” brings back the western to American theaters with perfect acting, flawless script and story that will keep audiences watching.

Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfield) is fourteen years-old when her father is killed by Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). Determined to see her father’s murderer brought to justice she employees a man of “true grit” to capture Chaney.

The man she chooses is Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), a one-eyed, whiskey-loving U.S. Marshall. Cogburn seeks help from LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) a Texas Ranger who’s been trailing Chaney since he shot a senator in Texas. When the two realize that Mattie is not only determined to have Chaney brought to justice but to travel with them so the three embark on the hunt.

From the second “True Grit” starts it draws in the audience’s attention and hold on to it for the whole film. The plot is never dragged out, or shortened. The action that is in the film helps tell the story instead of deterring from it.

Surprisingly the film is quite humorous as well. There is lots of comical exchanges between all the characters. In one scene Cogburn and LaBoeuf have a shooting competition after LaBoeuf doubts Cogburns aim due to his single eye. The humor helps the journey in the film to be more enjoyable, rather than keeping it dry and serious, the dialogue lightens the mood and entertains audiences.

The cast in “True Grit” fails to disappoint as well. Bridges, Damon and newcomer Steinfield perform their roles with believability and consistency. The actors disappear into their roles, making them unrecognizable, both visually and in character. The diversity of the characters also adds to the story by adding conflicting characters and ideals.

Mattie is a strong central character. She is unwavering in her decision to go after Chaney. She is also a shrewd, fast-taking business-woman who sticks with it until she either gets a good deal or gets what she wants. She refused to take no for an answer. All her characteristics are displayed perfectly by Steinfield not performing too strong or too light. Mattie’s characteristics combined with Steinfields acting make her character not only believable but likable. Mattie is a heroine that audiences enjoy rooting for.

Cogburn is a tough, gruff and “too old and fat” as he puts it. However, he is fearless and knows how to use a gun. At first he wants nothing to do with Mattie, but after her persistence (and money offer) he accepts. Bridges portrays Cogburn with honesty and is not afraid to show audiences Cogburn’s not-so-likable qualities.

LaBoeuf is proud to be a Texas Ranger and is almost as determined as Mattie to bring Chaney to justice. However, he wants Chaney to hang in Texas, not in Fort Smith. LaBoeuf has disagreements with Mattie, she doesn’t think he’s the right man to find Chaney, and he doesn’t want to bring a strong-headed girl on their trip. He also has issues with Cogburn who he thinks is a little too trigger-happy. Throughout the film displays his bravery and loyalty. Damon plays LaBoeuf with realism convincing audiences that he is LaBoeuf not Matt Damon.

“True Grit” also contains sweeping cinematography (Roger Deakins)that takes the audience through the setting. Along with a well-written score (Carter Burwell) that has a little country twang to it. Also the costumes (Mary Zophres) fit the time-period as well as the personalities of characters who wear them.

“True Grit” is a well-acted, well-scripted western that grabs audiences and pulls them into the story. There are no distractions and keeps a realistic feeling. “True Grit” is worth the time, and perhaps worth a few Oscars as well.