Jeri Jacquin
In theatres this Friday from writer/director Taylor Sheridan
and The Weinstein Company is the mystery and murder on WIND RIVER
Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner) is a Fish and Game Agent who sometimes
must hunt down animals that kill ranchers’ herds. While following the tracks of
a mountain lion, Lambert comes across human tracks. Following them he finds the
body of a young girl.
On Native American lands, Lambert calls Ben (Graham Greene)
the local law enforcement who also calls federal officer Jane Banner (Elizabeth
Olsen). Clearly not ready to take on a case like this, she asks Lambert to
assist in finding out who is responsible.
Lambert agrees but only because the young girl, Natalie
(Kelsey Asbille) is the daughter of his dear friend Martin (Gil Birmingham). He
understands his pain all to which makes him promise Martin that the murderer
will be caught. Banner looks to Lambert who begins to put the pieces together
but in an unconventional way.
What becomes clear is that the truth with far more shocking
than anyone could imagine.
Renner as Lambert is an introspective person but that’s
brought on by tragedy of his own. His character finds solace being a tracker
and Renner gives Lambert a stoic disposition that keeps him focused. The scenes
between Renner and Birmingham
are absolutely stunning, moving and their relationship becomes even clearer to
the audience taking my breath away. Renner always brings something memorable to
his characters and in WIND
RIVER
Olsen as Banner is a young FBI officer who isn’t prepared
for the case or the weather. This is a character that is tested in every way and
isn’t very welcomes by the indigenous people on the reservation. Their trust in
the outside world has been filled with disappointments and lies which puts
Banner immediately at odds with them.
Greene as Ben is the law enforcement that has a wicked and
biting sense of humor. Feeling as if the case is going to get mishandled, he is
with Lambert almost every step of the way to ensure justice is done – even if
that justice is tribal. I love that Greene is in this film and with a face that
doesn’t give anything away, he adds to the mysteriousness of it all.
Other cast include Julia Jones as Wilma, Teo Briones as
Casey, Apesanahkwat as Dan Crowheart, Tantoo Cardinal as Alice Crowheart, Eric
Lange as Dr. Whitehurst, Althea Sam as Annie, Tokala Clifford as Sam
Littlefeather, Martin Sensmeier as Chip, Tyler Laracca as Frank, Blake Robbins
as Tim, Norman Lehnert as Dale, James Jordan as Pete, Matthew Del Negro as
Dillon, Hugh Dillon as Curtis, Ian Bohen as Evan, Austin Grant as Carl and Jon
Bernthal as Matt.
TUBS OF POPCORN: I give WIND RIVER
Renner and Olsen are in it completely character wise and it
is such a pleasure to see Greene, Apesanahkwat and Crowheart brought to the
screen. Portraying Native American characters called for one thing absolutely –
that they should be portrayed by Native American actors to which I give Sheridan much
appreciation.
That story is Native American women are attacked so much
more than anyone has ever been made aware of. That becomes clear by the end of
the film along with the injustice and hopelessness those living on the
reservations live with. From drugs to the taking of their land by, in this
case, an oil company, Sheridan makes it clear that none of this should continue
to be ignored.
In the end – nothing is harder to track than the truth!
