Review of Wind River (2017) by Michael V — 06 Jan 2018

SPOILERS!

Overall a great movie. If you liked "Sicario" and "Hell or High Water" then you will likely enjoy this drama-mystery. I certainly did. "Wind River" and these other two movies by same writer(Taylor Sheridan). There is a fair amount of violence (see CONS).

PROS:

* By far, Jeremy Renner's acting in this movie. IMO by far his best acting role. Hopefully his Hawkeye (Clint Barton ) roles will afford him the income to do more movies like "Wind River.".

* Tight, good story with slow burn (movies is no long at 111 minutes).

* Elizabeth Olson (another Avengers alum) acting.

* Native American cast (e.g. Graham Greene and Gil Birmingham).

* Utah (though movie states Wyoming) winter environment is well represented showing it is friend and foe at times.

CONS:

* Is showing the rape at end of movie really necessary? Already established twice she was brutally raped (1st Elizabeth Olson's FBI character stating so upon finding body and 2nd the Medical Examiner describing victim). To me it was gratuitious much like showing Jodie Foster character's rape in "The Accused.".

* Elizabeth Olson's FBI character does some real boneheaded decisions. E.g. Despite still very affected by pepper spray, she still enters drug-hole home to clear it. E.g. At end of movie she was being flanked by the workers but able to stand down. Then minutes later, she does not take proper precautions knocking on closed door (e.g. should have had on weapon and not stand directly in front of door). These boneheaded decisions given to her by the writer knocks off one star for me.

* Needing better closure for death of Graham Greene's Ben sheriff character and the other police officers. There was no mention by Renner nor Olson's characters of the death of at least three police officers. Just simple <10 second mention is all that is needed.