Home Reviews Review: Wind River

Review: Wind River

Elizabeth Olsen and Jeremy Renner star in The Weinstein Company's WIND RIVER

What we have in Wind River leads me to believe that Taylor Sheridan could possibly have a successful career as a director should he continue down that path. I guess he could just stick to writing, but there appears to be some serious potential that will make that hard to do. With a strong yet steady hand, he’s able to paint a picture here that shows that he may have as much to offer as a director as he does as a screenwriter.

After the murder of a local girl on a remote Native American Reservation in Wyoming, a game tracker (Jeremy Renner) from the area agrees to help an unprepared rookie FBI agent (Elizabeth Olsen) who’s been left to fend for herself by her superiors. Together, the two move forward with the investigation with very little help coming their way. As they learn about one another, they come to accept that only thing they can do is move forward undeterred in a cold world peppered with violence and covered in the kind of snow capable of covering the tracks of various types of criminals.

I went into Wind River expecting to see a movie that involved a story surrounded by violence and mystery. What I actually got was something that was more of an investigation than anything else. There are no clues for audiences to see and nothing for us to use in order to find out what’s happening before the film’s conclusion. There also isn’t an incredible amount of violence either outside of a couple of brutal scenes. Instead, we follow the two main characters as they look around and ask questions that will help get them the answers they’re searching for.

In some circumstances, this could very well be a negative to a movie. You go in thinking you’re mind is going to be challenged, but you get something that does all of the work. However, Wind River doesn’t disappoint as we’re presented with a clean film that is laid out as well as a filmmaker possibly could. Because of this, audiences are treated with a feature film that’s crafted with balanced and somewhat relaxing tones even though we know we’re dealing with murder and other heinous acts.

The way it’s structured allows for Jeremy Renner’s Cory Lambert to fit and lead in a sense. It also allows for Elizabeth Olsen’s Jane Banner to make sense here as she’s fairly young and not as experienced as most other FBI agents probably would be. With how things are set up, these two work together in a way that is rare. Unlike in most movies like this, this relationship is based on cooperation with nothing coming in between them. This lends itself well to the overall form of the movie that we’re watching. Like the rest of it, their partnership is a fluid and purposeful one where they both benefit and develop.

There’s always a place for mature films with realistic or at least plausible characters and situations. Although it most likely won’t get a blockbuster type return, I’m confident that Wind River will find an audience who will appreciate what they’ve seen. What they’re getting here is an intellectual thriller of sorts that gives its viewers the chance to observe while also giving them the potential to become attached to the people they meet on-screen. As we’ve seen even in recent films, not every movie is capable of accomplishing that even when they’re working with characters based on real people.

Rating: R

Director: Taylor Sheridan

Cast:
Jeremy Renner
Elizabeth Olsen
Gil Birmingham
Jon Bernthal
Julia Jones
Kelsey Asbille
James Jordan

Film Length: 111 minutes

Release Date: August 11, 2017

Distributor: The Weinstein Company

  • 7.5/10
    Score - 7.5/10
7.5/10
  • Poster image featuring Christian Bale and Matt Damon 20th Century Fox's in FORD V FERRARI

    Review: Ford v Ferrari

    You may have never heard of Ken Miles or the battle between Ford and Ferrari. If not, that…
  • (L-R) Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Chadwick Boseman star in Marvel's AVENGERS: ENDGAME

    Review: Avengers: Endgame

    Avengers: Endgame will undoubtedly be one of the biggest movies of all-time. You’re …
  • Jeremy Renner and Jon Hamm star in New Line Cinema's TAG

    Review: Tag

    In watching so many movies over the course of my life, I’ve learned that most movies…
  • Josh Brolin stars in Marvel Studios' AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

    Review: Avengers: Infinity War

    With Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War, Anthony and Joe R…
  • Poster for Neon's INGRID GOES WEST

    Review: Ingrid Goes West

    Movies that are unheard of or don’t get much fanfare ahead of time are often the mov…
  • (L-r) Ansel Elgort, Jamie Foxx, Eiza Gonzalez, and Jon Hamm star in Sony Pictures' BABY DRIVER

    Review: Baby Driver

    Baby Driver is strange in that it’s the kind of movie that you can enjoy while also …
Load More Related Articles
Load More By Jaskee Hickman
  • Timothée Chalamet and Josh Brolin star in Warner Bros. Pictures' DUNE PART 2

    Review: Dune Part 2

    In spite of its hype, I wasn’t all that excited about Dune Part 2. One reason was because …
  • Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero in Warner Bros. Pictures' MORTAL KOMBAT

    Review: Mortal Kombat (2021)

    I don’t think me or anyone I know was expecting an amazing work of art from Mortal K…
  • Eddie Murphy stars in Amazon's COMING 2 AMERICA

    Review: Coming 2 America

    Coming to America is my favorite comedy of all-time. However, I wasn’t someone who w…
  • Dave Davis stars in IFC Midnight's THE VIGIL

    Review: The Vigil

    Movies that focus on elements of different cultures always interest me. I guess that’…
  • Jamie Foxx stars in Disney's SOUL

    Review: Soul

    In many cases, animated films end up being better and more developed than most live-action…
  • Gal Gadot stars in Warner Bros. Pictures' WONDER WOMAN 1984

    Review: Wonder Woman 1984

    I wasn’t a fan of the first Wonder Woman film starring Gal Gadot. Although it seemed…
Load More In Reviews

Check Also

Review: Dune Part 2

In spite of its hype, I wasn’t all that excited about Dune Part 2. One reason was because …