WIND RIVER (2017) Review

In its core, WIND RIVER aspires to be a purposeful and salient think-piece highlighting a rather poignant and topical issue. The first half of this film relied very heavily on stoic emotion over the gravity of the situation, and it did not work. The confidence of Renner’s ability to carry emotion was the first half’s downfall, and consequently made the second half feel better than it probably was. That being said, the climactic sentiment of the rest of the film pulled intense drama into action and ultimately ended successfully. Renner’s was the only performance that was completely replaceable (and easily could have been a native man); he bordered on uninspired, however I could tell that he was trying to do the story justice with the tools he had, his character simply did not pull for me. I get the feeling this film recognizes its flaws in order to increase the gravity of the rest of the film.

Score: 6.9/10

Jade