Wind River

Name: Wind River
Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: August 4, 2017
Duration: 107 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Apesanahkwat, Elizabeth Olsen, Eric Lange, Gil Birmingham, Graham Greene

2017

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 44 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 394 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 394 Ratings

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Wind River

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Movie Details & Credits

Voltage Pictures | Release Date: August 4, 2017 | R

Starring: Apesanahkwat, Elizabeth Olsen, Eric Lange, Gil Birmingham, Graham Greene, Jeremy Renner, Julia Jones, Kelsey Asbille, Tantoo Cardinal, Teo Briones

Summary: U.S. Fish & Wildlife agent Cory Lambert discovers a body in the rugged wilderness of the Wind River Indian Reservation. The FBI sends in rookie agent Jane Banner, but she’s unprepared for the difficulties created by the oppressive weather and isolation of the Wyoming winter. When she employs Cory as a tracker, the two venture deep into aU.S. Fish & Wildlife agent Cory Lambert discovers a body in the rugged wilderness of the Wind River Indian Reservation. The FBI sends in rookie agent Jane Banner, but she’s unprepared for the difficulties created by the oppressive weather and isolation of the Wyoming winter. When she employs Cory as a tracker, the two venture deep into a world ravaged by violence and the elements. Wind River is a stark look at life on the edge of an imposing wilderness, where the rule of law is eclipsed by the laws of nature. [Sundance]… Expand

Director: Taylor Sheridan

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 107 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Richard Roeper

Aug 10, 2017

Writer-director Taylor Sheridan’s Wind River is a stark and beautiful and haunting 21st century Western thriller, filled with memorable visuals and poetic dialogue — and scenes of sudden, shocking, brutal violence. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Aug 10, 2017

[Renner] and Sheridan and some terrific, under-used supporting players...give Wind River a somber, grim grace and the relentless forward motion of a thriller. Read full review

Steve Pond

Jan 24, 2017

On the surface a tense investigative piece with Renner as a regular Sherlock of the snow, it also slips in cogent and damning points about the limitations and dead ends virtually forced on many residents of Native American reservations. Read full review

IndieWire David Ehrlich

Jan 24, 2017

Wind River may not blow you away, but this bitter, visceral, and almost parodically intense thriller knows what it takes to survive. Read full review

Barry Hertz

Aug 10, 2017

Sheridan knows how to craft a tidy whodunit – and a late-act switch in perspective works better than it should – but he eventually leans toward sermonizing instead of storytelling, a well-intentioned move that edges the story just this close to melodrama. Read full review

A.A. Dowd

Aug 2, 2017

Driven by another of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’ murmuring folk soundtracks, Wind River turns out to be the weakest of Sheridan’s loose trilogy — the one with the thinnest characterizations and the toughest time disguising its subtext as plainspoken townsfolk rapport. Read full review

Christopher Gray

Jul 29, 2017

When Taylor Sheridan is left to his own devices, his work seems more abrupt and shallow, no more so than when he resolves all of this film's lingering questions in one unremittingly nasty sideswipe of a flashback. Read full review

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User Reviews

LamontRaymond

Aug 5, 2017

Completely blown away by this film - saw it about 4 hours ago, yet I can't stop thinking about it. All phases of movie-making are so acutely honed in this picture - I'd be shocked if it weren't a best picture nominee. If Renner isn't at least considered for Best Actor, then the Academy isCompletely blown away by this film - saw it about 4 hours ago, yet I can't stop thinking about it. All phases of movie-making are so acutely honed in this picture - I'd be shocked if it weren't a best picture nominee. If Renner isn't at least considered for Best Actor, then the Academy is as stupid as I already think they are.… Expand

9 of 13 users found this helpful94

SeveringOcean

Nov 17, 2018

Wind River is a film that gives insight into a culture that isn't often explored in films, this paired with a simple but powerful neo-western mystery set in the bleak Wind River Indian reservation makes for a unique and enthralling watch. A fantastic performance from the entire cast butWind River is a film that gives insight into a culture that isn't often explored in films, this paired with a simple but powerful neo-western mystery set in the bleak Wind River Indian reservation makes for a unique and enthralling watch. A fantastic performance from the entire cast but especially the Native Americans featured, who ooze emotion with authenticity. The setting makes for some excellent cinematography the likes of which haven't been seen for years.
The message of the film doesn't feel overplayed, but honest.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

arlenchastain

Aug 25, 2017

Wind River was written and directed by Taylor Sheridan, who wrote the Oscar nominated Hell or High Water. Wind River stars Jeremy Renner as verteran game tracker, Cory Lambert, who discovers the remains of a young Native American woman while hunting on the Native American Reservation in theWind River was written and directed by Taylor Sheridan, who wrote the Oscar nominated Hell or High Water. Wind River stars Jeremy Renner as verteran game tracker, Cory Lambert, who discovers the remains of a young Native American woman while hunting on the Native American Reservation in the mountains of Wyoming. Which then lead to the murder investigation lead by FBI agent Jane Banner played by Elizabeth Olson. Learning that she is out of her element, Banner recruits the helps the help of Lambert to track down the murderers.

Taylor really showed his skills as a very talented and solid director with Wind River, from the opening scene it was captivating and intense, leading to a strong roller coaster of emotion and drama. I was blown away by this movie and it's intelligent story telling and it's captivating performances, as wells as the truly beautiful look of this movie.

Let's take a look at the best things about this film.

1. Tone- The tone of this movie is really something that is known immediately, and Taylor Sheridan didn't back down from it. He used everything in his wheelhouse, including the environment, to create a very dark and very sinister tone. The realism of this movie is scary and very gripping throughout. It didn't feel like a movie, it felt small and real. I felt like I was going along with these characters attempting to solve this horrific murder along side them.

2. Acting- The acting in this movie was something that was truly amazing. Jeremy Renner gave hands down his best performance. Renner truly carried this movie with what I believe to be a truly oscar worthy role. Elizabeth Olson also had the role of her carrier in Wind River. I didn't see either of these characters as "actors" I saw them as the characters they were portraying and I felt like they had lives outside of the movie we were watching. The back story to Cory Lambert was so heartfelt and real I felt like I lived it with him. 3. Script- This movie had some of the best conversational scene I have seen in a long time. The dialogue in this movie was masterfully crafted. Nothing felt out of place and all of the dialogue felt like natural everyday conversation. The scene in which Cory tells Jane about his tragic past was one of the most captivating scenes I have scene in a while. Every part of this script just felt well crafted and put together.

4. Entertaining- Wind River had a lot of entertainment value to it. It was one of the best murder mysteries I have seen. After Sheridan's Hell or High Water, I was expectant of a pretty good crime thriller. Wind River to me, was more entertaining. Every scene had me sitting closer to the screen and I was sitting on the edge of my seat by the end of it. It also had to really surprising and exciting action scenes.

5. Ending- Taylor Sheridan did an amazing job of making this movie have one of the best endings I have seen in a long time. It was satisfying on a really big level. It didn't end in a conventional way, but the ending was cathartic in a lot of ways. The climax of this movie was almost sickening and was very hard to watch. Jeremy Renner really helped sell the ending of this movie in a big way.

Overall, Wind River was one of the best movies I have seen this year. From the very beginning of this movie I knew it was going to be something extremely special. Wind River was an excellent movie and very entertaining. Jeremey Renner and Elizabeth Olson both gave the performances of their careers. I highly recommend seeing Wind River. I am going to give Wind River an A.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

drone41

May 20, 2018

What an atmosphere this movie has, it's so deep and meaningful. Jeremy Renner's character said really deep and great things and he fits perfectly to place and atmosphere where he is.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

imthenoob

Sep 21, 2017

Props to the great cast from Renner, who more than deserves a best acting nomination for his role here, to the Native American actors and actresses that provided even small supporting roles. The entire film was wonderfully acted and beautifully directed. And all this praise before we evenProps to the great cast from Renner, who more than deserves a best acting nomination for his role here, to the Native American actors and actresses that provided even small supporting roles. The entire film was wonderfully acted and beautifully directed. And all this praise before we even reach the plot, Which was as complete and enjoyable as you would expect from a drama film. It's right on par with the previous works by the writer (Hell or High Water, Sicario), who also directed the film. Go see it, It's fantastic and satisfying from beginning to end.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

Douglas56

Dec 17, 2017

A rather simple and somewhat sermonising whodunit about hard lives in a cold wilderness. It's not a great movie and Sheridan's directorial inexperience is evident, yet several scenes, especially those crafted in dialogue, are quite moving. I was disappointed by the easy slide intoA rather simple and somewhat sermonising whodunit about hard lives in a cold wilderness. It's not a great movie and Sheridan's directorial inexperience is evident, yet several scenes, especially those crafted in dialogue, are quite moving. I was disappointed by the easy slide into revenge-fueled vigilantism as a path to the film's climax. Revenge is not justice, even in Wyoming, and I see nothing admirable in depicting one as a morally acceptable substitute for the other. Jeremy Renner brings workmanlike competence to his role, while Elizabeth Olson deftly portrays a character who mixes determination and naviety in equal parts. Gil Birmingham's performance in a small role is beguiling.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Donsauce

Apr 12, 2018

Firstly I want to let you know, I created this account solely to review this movie and to right a wrong. How can a movie of this caliber get such positive reviews? I almost turned it off in the first minute, I mean wow!
I do feel bad for giving such a low score because most people involvedFirstly I want to let you know, I created this account solely to review this movie and to right a wrong. How can a movie of this caliber get such positive reviews? I almost turned it off in the first minute, I mean wow!
I do feel bad for giving such a low score because most people involved deserved much better for having to carry this collection of roughly glued together one liners. I mean all in all, it’s not bad if you can make it through all the poor product placement and sudden scene transitions with all new weather but so cold it will freeze your lungs but not cold enough to make their breath freeze? The unlikely circumstances with terrible stereotypes... but some of the lines stick with you and it might have been a great movie about a serious issue but the movie lacked finesse and was rough all over. Sorry.… Expand

2 of 13 users found this helpful211

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49	#49 Most Discussed Movie of 2017
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