Director Taylor Sheridan
Genre Action | Crime | Thriller
Cast Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Graham Greene, Jon Bernthal
Rating R
Release Date August 4th, 2017
“An FBI agent teams with a town’s veteran game tracker to investigate a murder that occurred on a Native American reservation.”
Wind River is a crime thriller from up-and-coming writer and director Taylor Sheridan, the man who penned the scripts for Sicario and Hell or High Water. Sheridan prides himself on bringing together some of the absolutes best aspects of a great film, including creative and original screenplays, top-tier casts, fantastic cinematography, and an unrelenting score. The cast for Wind River includes Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Graham Greene, and John Bernthal.
Perfectly acted with a bone chilling score, Wind River is an atmospheric crime thriller from the uber-talented Taylor Sheridan. My anticipation and level of excitement was at a boiling point by the time this film finally made its debut at a theater near me. Initially it opened as a limited release, and interestingly enough I was actually able to finally see it while on vacation in Alaska. It still has yet to make it to theaters back home in southern Maine, which is an absolute travesty. To say Wind River is worth driving a few cities over to a theater that has it would be an understatement, because this is an experience well worth the extra time and gas money. Sheridan is masterful behind the camera in his ability to immerse viewers in the frigid Wyoming conditions presented on-screen. Similar to Sheridan's recent writing credit Hell or High Water, Wind River is a genuinely intimate portrayal of an intense and complex thriller. Sheridan has made a seamless transition from acting to writing and directing, after playing a big role in the earlier seasons of the hit series Sons of Anarchy, and even played a small role in Hell or High Water. He is certainly a multifaceted talent to watch in Hollywood. The only contributing factor weighing as heavily on the success of Wind River next to the directing and the acting is the score, which to me is an underrated yet immensely powerful tool. The score sets the tone and magnifies the most powerful scenes Wind River has to offer, helping to keep viewers eyes glued to the screen. Sorry, but bathroom breaks will have to wait. The cinematography is amazing as well, and I found myself in awe of the beautiful Wyoming scenery. I would certainly prefer to avoid the brutal weather they contend with in that neck of the woods, but I still can't discount the undeniable appeal of the picturesque views and close knit feel of the community. As dark as Wind River is for the majority of the runtime just shy of 2 hours, it will still manage to get a few laughs out of you, which is pretty impressive. I honestly can't say enough great things about this film and if a legitimate flaw exists I must've missed it, because this is quality filmmaking at its finest.
Wind River is absolutely loaded with acting talent, bringing together a strong supporting cast as well as a few of Hollywood’s staples. The talented cast is lead by Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olson, who develop masterful chemistry throughout the film. I am a huge Jeremy Renner fan and have been since his performance in The Hurt Locker, and Wind River is yet another opportunity for him to flex his acting muscles in a dramatic role. Many actors struggle with the ability to truly immerse themselves into a role, especially when playing a character with a complicated past, but Renner succeeds on all fronts. Elizabeth Olsen plays the role of a young FBI agent stumbling upon a situation she never could have anticipated to absolute perfection. I’m not sure if many people will share the same sentiment but Olsen was one of my favorite under-the-radar actresses well before she snagged a key role in the Marvel films. She seems to strive in dramatic roles, and Wind River fits her skill set perfectly. Veteran actor Graham Greene is amazing in a supporting role, and even considering the difficult subject matter of the film, he manages to lighten the mood at times offering a nice change of pace. Most viewers will recognize him but won’t know exactly what they’ve seen him in, but he is a great actor and gets it done here. I am a huge fan of Jon Bernthal, who most remember as Shane from The Walking Dead, and even though he plays a small part in this film, it is a damn crucial role. Bernthal comes in almost out of nowhere and has one of the most impactful performances in Wind River. The supporting cast was fantastic all around without a weak spot to speak of.
Wind River wraps up the crime thriller trilogy for writer and director Taylor Sheridan, rounding out the impressive duo of Sicario and Hell or High Water. It continues the epic run of top-notch storytelling, an a-list cast, and one of the most effective scores this year. If you've enjoyed Sheridan's first two films or simply have a genuine appreciation for a crime thriller that will stay with you well after you leave the theater, I can't recommend Wind River enough. Highly recommended.
