Wind River

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Graham Greene, Julia Jones, Kelsey Ashbille, Gil Birmingham, Jon Bernthal
Directed by: Taylor Sheridan
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Mystery
2017

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A rookie FBI Agent (Elizabeth Olsen) teams with an experienced tracker (Jeremy Renner) to hunt for a murderer in Wyoming.

Review:

Tim: Taylor Sheridan had already won me over as a writer. Crafting the story for both Sicario and Hell or High Water (two great movies) instantly makes him someone I'm interested in. I was excited about him writing Wind River, but admittedly a little nervous about him directing it. It was only the second film he'd directed and the first in six years. Luckily, any fears were unnecessary- Sheridan writes and directs a great movie in Wind River. I'm not sure what it is about his approach to characters and story, but his movies just work. He doesn't invent anything or do anything especially startling or new. He just tells compelling stories with interesting characters and it all works beautifully.

There's so much I enjoyed about this movie. I loved the setting- it takes place in rural Wyoming (which, admittedly is like 90% of the state) and on an American Indian reservation. The location is so important- it feels so isolated, so extreme. It reminded me a lot of Insomnia- another great drama/mystery that benefits significantly from its location. This gives us some beautiful landscape shots- the cinematography was very strong. It adds so much character to the story. It was a real differentiator. I loved how Sheridan depicted the surroundings- it feels as much a part of the story as anything else.

The cast was really good as well. This was so essential to the film. I loved the casting of Elizabeth Olsen as a rookie FBI agent. Olsen is really a strong actress and I love seeing all she can do. This felt like a perfect role for her- it stretched her acting ability, but she was believable in the role. She turns in a thoroughly enjoyable performance. It's not flashy, but it works. She's solid in every minute of screen time she gets. It was great seeing her partner up with Jeremy Renner again (they've been in Marvel movies together). Renner is really good as well. I loved his melancholy, strong portrayal of this character. He was entertaining and believable and made his presence felt in the film. The movie benefits greatly by the pairing of these two. I also loved seeing Graham Greene. It's been a long time since I saw him in a movie, but he's lost none of his ability. He has a small role, but it's essential to the film. He makes the movie better. It was also great seeing Jon Bernthal. The guy seems to be showing up everywhere, but he always delivers. His role was an unexpected one, but it was a good casting job and he performs well. Gil Birmingham gave a strong performance as well. The cast is strong from top to bottom.

Like all the movies Sheridan has written, Wind River deals with mature themes without blinking. They are about people who feel real- flawed, interesting people. The story unfolds in wonderful fashion, pulling the audience in. I was genuinely interested in the mystery and riveted throughout the film. I didn't know how it would end, but I was desperately anxious to see how it concluded. In a movie like this, the climax and the payoff is essential and Sheridan absolutely delivers. I was caught off guard at the climax- the movie feels like a slow boil, yet it caught me unawares when it finally exploded. The violence, the suspense- it was entertaining, exciting, and you knew you were watching something special.

I was very disappointed that this film was released by the Weinstein Company, because due to that piece of human garbage, Harvey (seriously, I despise that scumbag), this movie had no chance at the end of the year awards for 2017. That's a shame, because this film is easily one of the best movies of the year. It deserved more recognition than it got. Truly, Wind River is an exceptional piece of movie-making and I'm even more firmly on the Taylor Sheridan bandwagon. I can't wait to see what he does next.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Sicario, Hell or High Water