Review of Wind River (2017) by Garry A — 15 Nov 2017

Taylor Sheridan's final entry in his neo-Western trilogy; (the only one he directed) book-ends 'Sicario' (so-so) and Hell or 'High Water' (fantastic) with the desolate, Wind River. Set in the harsh Wyoming 'spring' the film certainly earns it's title, with it's snow-bound, wind-swept setting. To the film's credit, the harsh conditions are really captured perfectly, with sparse location-shot direction, aided by a crunchy ambient soundtrack, with what feels like a constant howling wind throughout. It's a perfect winter watch.

Jeremy Renner has had a spotty career in my opinion. He is certainly a talent, but he seemed, at one point, to become bogged down by playing character-less superhero roles. Actors should be able to chase a pay check, but his balance tipped over a little into the easy, fast-buck direction. He certainly reigns it back in here though, with a damn fine performance as a grieving hunter/tracker attempting to ensnare a local murderer. Certainly back to his 'The Town' and 'Hurt Locker' best. He has fine support too from Elizabeth Olsen, along with literally every well-known Native American actor you have seen before.

Sheridan's script is typically, for him, plot-light. He seems far more concerned with his character's and their motivations, rather than any attempt at convolution. There is credit to that though, and the consequence ultimately is that the writing is tight and the film moves at a decent pace. One criticism I would have, is that it does slightly full into the typical Hollywood trap of skewing the depiction all of the Native American characters as 'victims' and the white protagonists as the 'heroes', and there are a few clunky lines of dialogue in there. That aside, I loved it. Special mention too for the Nick Cave/Warren Ellis soundtrack - just wonderful.