"Winter's Bone" - Why is this the best reviewed movie of the year?

Our staff field trip to see this one ended early last night, as we collectively walked out of the Nickelodeon theatre about a half hour into the show. Maybe we're a bunch of snobs here at The 'Pent, but there didn't seem to be anything much going on in this depressingly bleak portrayal of lower class Ozark life. We didn't see one moment that struck us as true in the first 30 minutes and, figuring that it wasn't going to get any better, headed for the parking lot. Tell us if we missed anything good, won't you, since the critics adore this movie.