Winter's Bone

Winter's Bone has an interesting story line.  A young girl, Jennifer Lawrence (Medium) is forced to take care of her younger siblings and her sick mother while her father disappears.  Her father is under suspicion by the authorities for manufacturing crystal meth.  When he jumps bail, the sheriff informs Ree (Lawrence) that her father has put the house and the surrounding land up as collateral for his bail, and she will lose it all if her father doesn't show up for his trial the following week.  In an effort not to lose her home, Ree goes on a hunt for her father.
Unfortunately, this movie was pretty boring.  I was hoping for something like Wild America where she goes on all these crazy adventures to different places.  But no.  She stays in her own hick town asking around for her father and finding no answers.  Also, everyone in the town happens to be related to her and her father, which proves the small town discrimination of everyone being everyone's cousin.  And these people have never heard of Southern hospitality.  They're not very nice to the poor girl; they even beat her up for poking her nose around.  She doesn't care that you guys make drugs, she just wants to find her dad so she doesn't lose the house or kids.  I did feel bad for her though, bad that she lives this boring life in the mountains where everyone's related to her.  You can't afford to take care of your brother and sister, give them to someone that can.  You are all related after all so they'll be with blood.  This was a pretty sucky movie.  The first one I've seen in a while.
However, apparently my opinion doesn't matter because Winter's Bone is nominated for 4 Oscars.  Best Picture of the Year (which it definitely doesn't deserve), Best Performance by Actor in a Supporting Role (John Hawkes; S. Darko, Wristcutters: A Love Story), Best Performance by Actress in a Leading Role (Jennifer Lawrence), and Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay).
Ok so Hawkes was born in rural Minnesota so he knows how to play a hick.  I mean, how hard is it to talk in a Southern accent, not speak proper English, and threaten to slap women around in your bare feet.  I mean that's my stepdad to a T, maybe he should get the Oscar.  Sorry John, but the performance wasn't that great.  I mean you were in S. Darko so how good of an actor can you be?  Really?  That's a no for the Supporting Actor Role Oscar.
Again, born in Kentucky, knows how to play the part.  I guess Hollywood is amazed when a young person plays an important role.  Well her character was 17, she's 20.  She's not a child that can act in an important role, she's an adult that can act in an important role, and we have plenty of those.  Come on, are we going to start giving Dakota Fanning Oscars now?  Is Lawrence Leading Lady Material?  No.
Best Writing? Hmm, well this movie made me NOT want to read the book.
I really thought I would enjoy it like every other Oscar movie I've seen so far, and I gave it a chance, but after a half hour of it grabbed my computer to play Farmville while watching.  Sorry, but if I'm not totally into a movie, then it's not great.  So I highly recommend you don't see this movie.  It's completely up to you, but I'd make sure you see it for free because I'm extremely glad I did.