Dear Reader: Update, Movie Review Intelligence will
continue publishing this website through June (more...)
Search a Movie:
WINTER'S BONEMovie Reviews
Drama about a 17 year-old girl living in the Ozarks who must locate her father, rumored to have died in a methamphetamine laboratory accident, in order to save her family from homelessness. Cast:Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Dale Dickey, Garret Dillahunt, Sheryl LeeDirector:Debra GranikRelease Date:June 11, 2010DVD Release:October 26, 2010From:Roadside AttractionsRating:RLength:1 hr 40 min
Winter's Bone played in national release to exceptional reviews. • A.O. Scott wrote in the New York Times, "...as memorable and vivid a heroine as you are likely to see on screen this season." • And Lisa Schwarzbaum wrote in Entertainment Weekly, "...one of the unshowiest and most true-blooded epics of Americana... Jennifer Lawrence is the movie's blooming discovery, a mesmerizing actor..." More Reviews Below...
Winter's Bone Positive Reviews (46 Reviews, reviews below)
David Germain, Associated Press: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a backwoods masterpiece.... real, understated, fiercely intense and surprisingly gentle and decent... a nearly flawless film..."(See all of David Germain's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 700 words, 06/10/10
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...one of the unshowiest and most true-blooded epics of Americana... Jennifer Lawrence is the movie's blooming discovery, a mesmerizing actor..."(See all of Lisa Schwarzbaum's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 285 words, 06/11/10
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Every once in a rare while a movie gets inside your head and heart, rubbing your emotions raw. The remarkable 'Winter's Bone' is just such a movie."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 319 words, 06/11/10
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "The movie heroes who affect me most are not extroverted. They don't strut, speechify and lead armies. They have no superpowers.... Ree Dolly is such a hero."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 833 words, 06/17/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "Intense, immersive and in control... while Lawrence's performance will get more attention it is Hawkes' work that truly makes us believe that this world exists."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 854 words, 06/11/10
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: VERY GOOD(cg) "...in 17-year-old Ree, a flinty survivor portrayed by the spectacularly talented young actress Jennifer Lawrence, a rural crime story finds its heart."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 474 words, 06/18/10
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "The movie heroes who affect me most are not extroverted. They don't strut, speechify and lead armies. They have no superpowers.... Ree Dolly is such a hero."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 833 words, 06/17/10
Dan Kois, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "...quiet, sometimes frustrating, sometimes thrilling... we come out the other end of Ree's quest impressed, but also disquieted, by her strength."(See all of Dan Kois's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 606 words, 06/09/10
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: VERY GOOD(cg) "The dialogue is so sparse and the plot is so lean, it requires acting of exemplary strength, and the movie delivers in spades..."(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 675 words, 06/18/10
Rick Groen, Toronto Globe & Mail: VERY GOOD(cg) "...unfolds like an elemental myth from the stormy past - a Greek tragedy driven by dark fates and struggling toward a catharsis."(See all of Rick Groen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 766 words, 06/18/10
Unattributed, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) " 'Winter's Bone' is in no mad rush, but stick with it. The Sundance winner's slow-burn approach creates some powerful tension."(See all of Unattributed's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 168 words, 06/17/10
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: OUTSTANDING(cg) "It's been a long time since a film has conveyed a culture, and a sense of place, with such telling precision. At the same time, 'Winter's Bone' thrums with suspense."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 566 words, 06/18/10
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Jennifer Lawrence gives a peerless performance... She's an indelible centerpiece to a memorable movie. Film lovers will be talking about 'Winter's Bone' for years."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 541 words, 06/25/10
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a masterpiece of sparseness.... Debra Granik and cinematographer Michael McDonough conjure a world of pale skies over gutted, barely habitable terrain."(See all of Chris Vognar's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 570 words, 06/25/10
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...feels so real, so right, that you only slowly realize you're watching a detective movie. It's those noir bones that give this social-realist drama its punch..."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 759 words, 06/18/10
Clint O'Connor, Cleveland Plain-Dealer: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a compelling slice of America's dark side that for once is not awash in urban cliches. The paranoid people slowly get under our skin."(See all of Clint O'Connor's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 392 words, 07/16/10
Marc Mohan, Portland Oregonian: OUTSTANDING(cg) "With flawless performances married to a harrowing, suspenseful detective story, this gritty film... seems destined to end up among the year's best."(See all of Marc Mohan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 350 words, 06/25/10
Tom Long, Detroit News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "True to itself, 'Winter's Bone' never softens, and neither does Ree... The result is a film and a character of unusual strength."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 307 words, 06/25/10
Dan Kois, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "...quiet, sometimes frustrating, sometimes thrilling... we come out the other end of Ree's quest impressed, but also disquieted, by her strength."(See all of Dan Kois's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 606 words, 06/09/10
Shaula Clark, Boston Phoenix: VERY GOOD(cg) "...the film doesn't always ring true, and the over-earnest dialogue has its share of clunkers. But the deft cast makes this Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner shine."(See all of Shaula Clark's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 163 words, 06/17/10
Unattributed, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) " 'Winter's Bone' is in no mad rush, but stick with it. The Sundance winner's slow-burn approach creates some powerful tension."(See all of Unattributed's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 168 words, 06/17/10
Curt Holman, Atlanta Creative Loafing: EXCELLENT(cg) "A stark character-driven drama... depicts a rural culture that clings so tightly to rigid protocols and unspoken laws, the interpersonal dynamics feel almost medieval."(See all of Curt Holman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 531 words, 07/14/10
HIGHBROW PRESS (5 Reviews)
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: OUTSTANDING "...spectacular for its humanity, austere beauty and heart-stopping urgency.... Ree is a thrilling heroine, so old-fashioned that she's new..."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 599 words, 06/11/10
David Denby, New Yorker: OUTSTANDING "...an extraordinary independent film... a work of art that grabs hold and won't let go.... one of the great feminist works in film."(See all of David Denby's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 930 words, 06/28/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "Intense, immersive and in control... while Lawrence's performance will get more attention it is Hawkes' work that truly makes us believe that this world exists."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 854 words, 06/11/10
MOVIE INDUSTRY (6 Reviews)
Justin Chang, Daily Variety: OUTSTANDING "The film's atmosphere of suspicion, foreboding and everyday misery would be too much to bear if not for the rich emotional anchor supplied by Lawrence."(See all of Justin Chang's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 801 words, 01/25/10
John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter: MODERATE "...the strong presence of John Hawkes keeps the bleak setting from overcoming the movie and gives Lawrence a bit more to play against."(See all of John DeFore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 391 words, 01/25/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "Intense, immersive and in control... while Lawrence's performance will get more attention it is Hawkes' work that truly makes us believe that this world exists."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 854 words, 06/11/10
Patrick Z. McGavin, Cinema 24/7: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...features an absolutely stunning performance by Jennifer Lawrence... Director Debra Granik beautifully lays out the dramatic particulars.... a knockout."(See all of Patrick Z. McGavin's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,025 words, 01/25/10
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: OUTSTANDING "...spectacular for its humanity, austere beauty and heart-stopping urgency.... Ree is a thrilling heroine, so old-fashioned that she's new..."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 599 words, 06/11/10
15.8 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Winter's Bone's reviews are separated by an average 15.8 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Winter's Bone (46 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Winter's Bone's reviews cover 66.6% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 24,343 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 529 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Winter's Bone Coverage, Volume & Length (46 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 50.2 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Winter's Bone's reviews on average broke 50.2 hours after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Winter's Bone's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Winter's Bone (46 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
Mobile Web App version 1.2 shows a list of all current movies and review information. You can click through to the cast, director, synopsis, release date and rating on page two, plus individual reviews on page three. The information is updated on a live/real-time basis. You can also search our database of films. Designed for when you're on the move and want the latest info, this app will work on any mobile web browser. From your mobile device -- only from a mobile device -- open our Mobile Web App here...
