Wind River (2017)

User Review

• 

  Barneyonmovies

  9 / 10

  WHAT I LIKED: Taylor Sheridan's 'frontier trilogy,' has explored human desperation and survival in bleak environments in a way that very few films out there have, but the final chapter 'Wind River,' (which he directs as well as writes) shines a much more intimate light on the real humanity behind this kind of struggle. Yes perhaps partly as a symptom of such an emotionally impactive story, this film is easily the most touching of the three as it strips back the desperate situations and really focuses on the feelings of the people in them. This is very emotional to watch, and is aided ten-fold by brilliant performances - particularly from Jeremy Renner who delivers what is probably the performance of his career, and in the end it's able to properly delve into its themes and make for one of the most impactive films of the year.
  However, if it sounds like 'Wind River,' is too soft at its centre to really portray the bleak desperation, it really isn't, as Taylor Sheridan clearly has a hand that's just as assured when directing as it is when writing. As a result the film builds the story's tension and atmosphere perfectly to make for an intense and all-consuming environment where the landscape and the hardship of living within it is brought to life with brilliant cinematography, sound design and some of the best editing of the year, and in the end it will likely leave you donning the blankets and shedding a tear whilst admiring the work on screen, both in terms of the technical efforts, and the efforts of the human characters within.
  WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The exciting murder-mystery element of the story does arguably come second to the thematic and character drama.
  VERDICT: A bleak yet especially human exploration of struggle in a difficult environment, 'Wind River,' puts Taylor Sheridan on the directorial map and rounds out his trilogy perfectly. In fact, it's the best of the three.

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