Jennifer Lawrence plays Ree, a 17-year-old Missouri teenager caught between a rock (of crystal meth) and a hard place. Her father is a drug-cooking miscreant who has bet the farm (literally) on his next court appearance. He disappears while out on bond and Ree has to find him, or her family will lose what little they have left.
Don't think this is a melodrama. It's not. Ree's attempts to find her dad take her even deeper into the Ozarks and further into the dark, depressing world of rural drug making. It's Deliverance after the apocalypse. Everybody's got a story and nobody's talking.
Ree challenges the drug-maker's code of silence and does her best to convince shirt-tail kin to help her. She has the tenacity of someone who's come to the end of her rope and has tied a knot to hang on. At times it's painful to watch. Her hunger is real and it chews through the screen with gut-wrenching intensity.
It's a hillbilly odyssey worthy of Homer. There's no "Hollywood" ending here. But why would there be? By the end of this 100-minute film, you almost feel like a voyeur watching something you weren't really meant to see.
Winter's Bone is a dark movie that casts a lantern's light on a disturbing subject. You may not like what you see hiding in the shadows, but there's no way you'll forget it.
Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.
Tips:
If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.
If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.
Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.
Follow us on Twitter: @BoomerBrief
and @CharlotteBoomer
Know someone battling cancer? Baylor Health Care System's Sammons Says... cancer blog is a great place to go for help. Here, you'll find information, resources, physicians, support groups and just about everything you need to help you navigate your way through this illness.
Senior Forums is a great place to get the news and share views on everything from hobbies and healthcare, to food, family & travel.
Matt Drudge gets the goods and his site ain't bad either.
You don't have to live in Dallas to enjoy D Magazine.
