Roll The Bones

The last few weeks have been interesting for me where my movie-watching habits are concerned.

By now everybody knows that I've been going back a few years and renting titles that got past me, and for the most part I've been wowed. Choosing what films I want to double back on is an interesting process. Sometimes it's one that's mentioned on some sort of list somewhere. Sometimes, it's a film suggested by one of my fellow bloggers and podcasters (thank you all for that by the way). But sometimes, it comes from my habit of going on certain type of bender.

I have a pretty neat habit of coming home from a movie by a particular director, and finding myself wanting to see other titles by that director again - or often for the first time. Last summer for instance, in the wake of THE HURT LOCKER, I immediately re-watched POINT BREAK and tracked down THE WEIGHT OF WATER.

Such has been the case lately. Given that WINTER'S BONE is one of the very best movies I've seen so far, I was quite curious to see the rather well-received debut by director Debra Granik, DOWN TO THE BONE. It actually took a bit of hunting, since it's a smaller film, but I'm happy to report that it was well worth the dig.

The movie features an amazing performance by Vera Farmiga as a lower-class wife and mother of two that is trying to battle drug addiction. The film is very gritty and very honest, and had it not been for a podcast interview with director Debra Granik, I might not have ever heard of it...let alone got all hot & bothered to see it.

It's funny...sometimes my completist tendencies can lead me to a director's junkers that should be left on the shelf...other times, I can get a fantastic surprise like DOWN TO THE BONE.

I've flapped a lot about seeking out the better films to be seen this summer, and likewise been noted that the better films can't always be seen at everyone's local theatre. Perhaps then, in lieu of going out to be disappointed by the thoughtless fare we're being served this summer, I might persuade you to stay in and rent DOWN TO THE BONE. Then when you finally do get a chance to see WINTER'S BONE at a theatre, you can greet the on-screen credit of Debra Granik with a contented "I love her work."