Wind River

This review may contain spoilers!

A part of me wonders if the film would be better served without a white male lead; yet I cannot deny that this film is one of the best to come out of 2017. I would give Wind River a 9/10.

This film is exciting because it ventures into a setting that many have been too afraid or ashamed to portray: a Native American reservation. Yet Wind River presents a spiritual home that connects with the natural world around it in a way that will blow you away; the harsh landscape challenges the characters and us as an audience. The brutal act of a Native American girl being sexually violated and murdered confronts the viewer with the stark reality that Native American people still aren't receiving justice within their own country, It's a heartbreaking truth told through an empathetic story. The cinematography does such a great job of capturing the open and wild landscape of the Wind River setting, yet it also manages to tighten up on the action when the pace picks up and the fierce side of the characters is revealed. The editing really has a great sequence to it, lingering upon moments where we should reflect but moving at speed when the criminal investigation grows exciting. The score really has this deep connection to the unforgiving natural world that unfolds within Wind River, this is complimented exceptionally well with Native American poetry that speaks to the cultural identity of the film.

Jeremy Renner, who played Cory Lambert, is a great protagonist for this film; Renner brings forth a powerful figure who has a deep understanding of loss and man's relationship with the natural world. Graham Greene, who played Ben, is a role that really has a hard edge to him after years of protecting the Wind River reservation; Greene brings forth a good-natured individual who is as much a part of his community as Renner is. Elizabeth Olsen, who played Jane Banner, is quite a timid role which contrasts greatly with her federal agent title; Olsen does a great job of portraying an inexperienced individual who has to grow up fast to solve her case. Tantoo Cardinal, who played Alice Crowheart, has a really fierce amount of energy which made her scene stand out; Cardinal clearly shows the pain she has already had to endure within her life and the anger she feels at being sent inexperienced Olsen. Eric Lange, who played Dr. Whitehurst, is quite a clinical and honest portrayal of a mortician; Lange really navigates the bureaucratic legalities of the position well. Gil Birmingham, who played Martin, is one of the most emotionally grounded performances of the film; his incredible chemistry with Renner and exquisite portrayal of grief make this a performance worth remembering. Hugh Dillon and James Jordan, who played Curtis and Pete Mickens respectively, make for some incredible antagonists in this film; the deceptive and slimey nature of these roles is brilliantly portrayed by this pair.

However the best performance came from Jon Bernthal, who played Matt. This is a role that is exceptionally charismatic, despite the red herring that he is an antagonist when first we meet him. Bernthal plays this set up quite well, then progresses to bring forth one of the most likeable characters of the film. In a lot of ways Bernthal is an example of an honourable figure in a dishonourable environment and that dynamic is interesting to watch unfold. I was really impressed with Bernthal's ability to play such an infatuated and romantic figure, while also bringing forth an aggressive brawler when the scene requires it.

Wind River feels like a Native American story, or at least a story about injustices done to Native American people, so it feels a bit off-brand that the story is lead by a non-Native American protagonist. It's a story that will completely move you and is quite pointedly one of the best films of the year but you can't help but feel that it's missing the obvious as the plot unfolds.

Julia Jones, who played Wilma, provides a glimpse into the shattered remains of Renner's family life but provides little else to the film; the frosty reception from the ex-wife comes off as a tired trope in this film. Teo Briones, who played Casey, is a nice enough emotional bond for Renner in the first twenty minutes of the film; yet weirdly after this time he seems to stop existing or mattering much as a character. Apesanahkwat, who played Dan Crowheart, gives quite a tired performance that doesn't serve as a great introduction to the Wind River cast; his 'guidance' of Renner feels a little over the top. Tyler Laracca, who played Frank, is quite over the top in his portrayal of grief compared to the rest of the cast; Laracca is one of the more inexperienced performers and it shows in his interactions with other cast members.