Brilliant crime mystery, showing man at his best...and worst

Rating: 8/10 (16 July 2018)

Understated and engaging film that centers on a skilled game tracker Cory (brilliantly played by Jeremy Renner), the Wyoming Native American reserve he and his extended family call home and his role in helping solve a crime. When a young, talented but somewhat insensitive FBI agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen) is called in to help run a murder investigation it becomes clear she is not going to be able to do it alone. Teaming up with the local police and utilising Cory's knowledge of tracking in the remote and unforgiving environment becomes her only option in finding how a young Native American girl ended up dead in the snow.
Renner really knocks it out of the park on this one, his portrayal of a father dealing with the aftermath of his own loss while assiting on an investigation that sits a little too close to home is a standout. He shows that strong performances can come from an intensity that simmers below the surface and his understated performance fits nicely when teamed with Olsen's at times pushy character. Layered within this starring duo are the Native American families, the ongoing issues they face as a community and as victims of this horrible crime.
The cinematography is breathtaking, the performances to a high standard and the plot keeps you engaged right up to the final scenes. Taylor Sheridan is clearly a writer and director with an exciting future ahead, I for one will be keeping an eye out for his future projects on the back of seeing Wind River.