Review of Wind River (2017) by Dana F — 19 Dec 2017
Ah yes, this is exactly what we needed: a true-to-life, gripping story of hard life on a Native American reservation... starring two white people. Really, I shouldn't be disparaging, this is actually a really good movie.
It's just a shame that a story about Native Americans has to be told through the eyes of white folk in order to be relatable... or more importantly, make any money. This movie is written and directed by Hollywood darling screenwriter Taylor Sheridan.
If you're familiar with his work ("Sicario" and "Hell or High Water"), you know the kinds of movies he writes - tough but realistic stories about Americana that tend to run on the serious side.
This movie takes it to an even darker place. It's an extremely somber and quiet movie, with ugly and grim subject matter (i.e. the rape and subsequent death of a young Native American woman). It is a pretty remarkable film, even if you have to be in the right mood to truly appreciate it.
It's a harrowing dramatic story that also plays like a mystery to keep the viewer engaged, with some pops of action thrown in, and it all works. Jeremy Renner is fantastic as the lead, there is a soulfulness to his performance that really brings his character to life.
The supporting cast is also fantastic, and it's nice that they did cast real Native Americans in those roles. I could have done without Elizabeth Olsen as Renner's counterpart, a fish-out-of-water FBI agent sent to investigate the death (thank god there is a white guy around to show her the ropes of what life is really like on the reservation! Jeez).
She's perfectly fine in the role, but doesn't bring anything special to it. In fact, the chemistry she had with Renner in the Avengers movies is strangely absent here. Overall, this movie is powerful stuff.
It's totally humorless, but intentionally (and wisely) so... it draws its power from its solemnity. This is a very well written, acted, and directed movie that doesn't make you feel good, but it does make you think.
This review of Wind River (2017) was written by Dana F on 19 Dec 2017.
Wind River has generally received very positive reviews.
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