Wind River Review (2017)

Wind River

  Wind River is based on a true story of a murder investigation on a remote Native American Reservation.
  I went into this film knowing absolutely nothing other than the fact that it starred Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen. I hadn't even watched the trailer, so I was definitely blindsided by how heavy the content would be.
  Let me start this review by saying that this is not a movie for the faint of heart. It immediately starts us off with a tone of darkness, soaks us in that darkness, and then it leaves us in it. Our main characters all are dealing with a sort of brokenness that they are trying overcome, all while living in a cold, desolate environment that traps them in a certain repetitive way of life.
  There were a lot of layers to this film, and a lot of themes we can analyze. On one end, we have the relationship dynamics between the Natives and the white people living on the reservation. On the other hand, we have this culture that is affected by the environment in ways that are detrimental, and how certain characters react to this environment. At the very heart of the film, it is the story of a broken man who seeks catharsis through the solving of this case, and how his trauma helps heal the community.
  While it is more of a slow-paced drama than a thriller, you never feel left wanting. It is both heartbreaking and beautifully affecting, unafraid to dive headfirst into its concepts and themes.
  Wind River is probably not a movie you'll want to watch over and over again but is definetly a film you should see at least once, if not only for Jeremy Renner's excellent performance. 7 out of 10 stars (Very Good)