Elegant In Its Poignance

Rating: 10/10 (5 September 2017)

"Lyrical" is an accurate term to describe the superb drama "Wind River." "Poetic" and "haunting" are other appropriate terms for this genuinely moving little picture, which seemingly came out of nowhere to score heavily among critics and has been developing a strong word-of-mouth following since its quiet release in early August.
In "Wind River," a veteran officer with the Wyoming Fish and Wildlife Service while tracking a rogue mountain lion discovers in a remote wilderness location the body of a young woman who appears to have been sexually assaulted and murdered. That the young woman was a Native American from the local Shoshone Reservation eventually complicates and even hinders the identification and apprehension of the killer.
The FBI assigns to lead the investigation an inexperienced young agent, and she solicits the assistance of the Wildlife officer. He guides the rookie agent with his expertise while using the case as a means of seeking personal redemption for an act of irresponsibility which led to the unsolved murder of his own teenaged daughter a few years earlier.
The critically-acclaimed "Wind River" benefits enormously from a quietly authoritative performance from Jeremy Renner as the veteran Fish and Wildlife officer. This is a role which is quintessentially American—at one time the part would've been performed by Steve McQueen, or by Gary Cooper thirty years before McQueen, or by silent screen star William S. Hart thirty years before Cooper. Renner and his performance are easily comparable with the legendary stars of motion picture history.
Also starring in "Wind River" are Elizabeth Olsen as the rookie FBI agent, and the wonderful Graham Greene as the Native American tribal police chief nominally in charge of the local part of the investigation.
The younger sister of the once enormously-popular Olsen Twins acting and singing team from the 1990s, Elizabeth Olsen has matured into a legitimately persuasive and talented performer on her own.
In "Wind River," Olsen benefits greatly from performing a role with similarities to her own novice career as an actress—possibly somewhat insecure among the veterans, but canny and practical enough to request and rely upon the guidance of the seasoned pros. Olsen's performance is persuasive, and uniquely effective. Olsen can genuinely act, literally among the best of them.
And veteran actor Greene, effective earlier this year in a small but pivotal role in the popular "The Shack" but known as well for his signature role in the classic 1990 western "Dances with Wolves," again uses his sleepy eyes and relaxed, almost excessively informal demeanor to disguise a wise and wily character—sharp and experienced, despite a lazy and vaguely incompetent demeanor.
In this way, Greene has matured into a sort of modern-day Robert Mitchum. When during a dangerous confrontation Olsen's FBI agent requests backup reinforcement, Greene patiently explains to her, "This isn't the land of back up—this is the land of you're on your own." His manner is quiet and firm, but kindly, and gentle.
Written and directed by the talented Taylor Sheridan, also the writer of the critically-acclaimed "Sicario" from 2015 and last year's "Hell or High Water," "Wind River" doesn't miss a trick or leave a plot thread undeveloped. Already known as an enormously talented writer, Sheridan with "Wind River" becomes a director to keep an eye on in the future.
But "Wind River" belongs primarily to Jeremy Renner, in his affecting performance as a decent, solitary man trying to do his best against opposition, apathy, and sometimes overwhelming odds. Despite the actor's strong showings in 2010's "The Town," for which her received an Academy Award nomination, and in 2009's Academy Award-winning Best Picture "The Hurt Locker," this is Renner's career-best performance, at least so far.
Filmed, beautifully, on breathtaking Utah locations, "Wind River" was financed in part by the Tunica-Biloxi Native American tribe. A closing title notes that missing person reports are tracked for every United States demographic except Native Americans.
But far from being a diatribe on Native American human rights or the undeniable and unconscionable slights against their heritage, "Wind River" is simply a classic American drama about strong and morally conscientious individuals banding together and trying to work through their responsibilities with a sense of honor, dignity, and integrity.
Forget the awards, the critical acclaim, or the likely recognition during awards season—"Wind River" is a motion picture which will belong in the DVD library of every fan of classic motion pictures, alongside "Shane," "High Noon," "The Gunfighter," and, yes, "Dances with Wolves." The final scene especially is almost elegant in its poignant beauty, and relevance. "Wind River" is recommended, highly and strongly.