10 Greatest Neo-Noir Films Of The 21st Century

One of the best big screen breakthroughs in modern memory, Jennifer Lawrence introduced herself as the next big thing in Debra Granik’s hard boiled Missouri noir.

The then-unknown actress plays Ree Dolly, a preternaturally aged 17 year old tasked with keeping her poverty stricken family together. When her unreliable father skips bail, she’s tasked by local law enforcement to bring him back, or the family will lose what little they have on a bond claim.

With that, Ree is off on a journey that tests her to her limits. She’s forced deep into the Ozarks, dealing with drug-addled family members, local gangsters, and the wild elements. Lawrence is astonishing in the role and she’s matched by John Hawkes as her addict uncle Teardrop, a man riddled with demons, violence, and ultimately honour.

Granik works wonders with a microbudget, teasing so much tension and terror out of a rogue’s gallery of salty character actors and a simple but incredibly gripping premise. It’s a fantastic piece of film making all the way up to an unforgettable ending.