Wind River

Positive—Loved this movie! I am surprised it was even rated R, and it should not give Christians any problem watching it. Did not have much cussing (if any-I don’t remember a single one). This movie is rated R for the topic and violence that the movie is based around—which is rape and murder—but! if such things can be covered tastefully—they were done very well in this movie.

Some movies glorify rape and make it almost sexy, show too much of the women’s bodies, or last too long. This movie mostly presents to you that one has occurred without you having to see it very much at all. I would let teens about 14 or older see this movie, although they probably won’t enjoy it the way an adult would. The movie is all about subtlety and depth—not flashes and bangs.

The only nudity is a dead man frozen in snow that you see his butt cheeks. There might be a little in the morgue, but if there was, it was so swift I missed it reaching down for popcorn. I really enjoyed this movie. It had all the great acting and deep undertones of “Hell or High Water” without the vulgarity.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5

…Intense and thoughtful thriller “Wind River” will chill you to the bone…

…the director deserves a prize for getting the riveting best out of Jeremy Renner… who gives his subtlest, most rivetingly individual performance in years here…

…delivers shrewd insights into troubling American social issues in a punchy, action-and-violence-filled package… keen sensitivity to the rough winter conditions and limited prospects faced by the locals. …

…an undeniably strong director…

…Sheridan’s feel for psychology and setting are in fine evidence here. Wind River’s landscapes are forbidding and beautiful. …a fine crime thriller, with reservations…

…a fierce, contemplative Western… [B+]

…full of vast, scrubby expanses… You can hear the crunch of snow and feel the bitter chill, which runs so deep that it can be deadly. …his storytelling is meaty but efficient, and his pacing moves along at a steadily engrossing clip before ultimately exploding in a startling blast of violence. … [3]

…humanistic crime drama… has more skill than excitement… immerses us in a place ruled by “snow and silence,” and uses the revelation of that atmosphere as the ultimate explanation of the crimes he’s unraveling. …

…Taylor Sheridan has crafted an uneven, but potent, vengeance film rooted in the death of a young Native American woman… All deliver strong performances, in particular Olsen and Birmingham…

…A sparse murder mystery that infuriates as often as it compels, despite its impressive moments… Sheridan has a deep empathy for (most of) his subjects, but where the film falters is in his attempt to marry that empathy with the sudden, grisly violence that has already become one of his narrative hallmarks. …

…an impressive effort and an impressive result that opens up a world that most of us have never thought about and renders it with sorrow and vividness.