Wind River
Wind River is a crime drama about an investigation of a murdered young Native American woman starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen (reunited again after Avengers: Age of Ultron in 2015 and Captain America: Civil War in 2016). Writer and director Taylor Sheridan gives the film a steady pace releasing just enough information to keep the murder mystery going while also showing the struggle some people have to go through living through a cold spring in Wyoming (some was also filmed in Utah). Renner is a hunter and tracker who while exploring his own motivations, assists Olsen’s FBI agent, less experienced in her career yet determined to do what is right. While Renner receives the most screen time (and looks convincing as an outdoorsman who knows the area well and can handle a hunting rifle), it is Olsen and the mournful locals that give the most heart wrenching performances (when they want to express their emotions they do so well). Based on actual events, Wind River addresses the lack of detailed investigations of Native American women, also calling it out in closing credits, and has a soundtrack that is sparse yet effective by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. There are some great snowmobile shots in the mountains, the snow covered landscapes are captivating, and many of the spoken lines by multiple characters are poetic.
2017, 14A, 1h 47m
Distributor – Weinstein Company
Budget / Worldwide Box Office (in millions) – $11 / $27 (and counting)
Cast & Crew
Writer and director Taylor Sheridan last wrote Hell or High Water (2016 crime thriller with Chris Pine), Sicario (2015 action drama with Emily Blunt), his other directing credit is for Vile (2011 horror about picking up the wrong hitchhiker), and is next writing Yellowstone (tv movie drama) and Soldado (action drama sequel to Sicario again with Josh Brolin). Jeremy Renner was last seen in The House (2017 comedy with Will Ferrell), Arrival (2016 sci-fi with Amy Adams), and will next be in sequels to Avengers and Jason Bourne, and the films Tag (comedy with Isla Fisher), and providing a voice for the animated Arctic Justice. Elizabeth Olsen was most recently in Ingrid Goes West (2017 comedy with Aubrey Plaza), an episode of Drunk History (2016 comedy series about historical reenactments), and will next be seen in Kodachrome (drama with Ed Harris) and the sequel Avengers: Infinity War (sci-fi action directed by the Russo brothers, Anthony and Joe).
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