Wind River

I would be extremely remiss if I didn't share my thoughts on the exceptionally crafted "Wind River." The latest concoction of writer/director Taylor Sheridan, this will certainly cement his place among the most talented and thoughtful double threats in the game today. After 2014's "Sicario" and last year's "Hell or High Water," he's continued his gritty and realistic storytelling narrative with a particular homage to the forgotten women of the Native American reservations, and he's done it by letting the story (and perhaps one particular character) do the talking.

Although set in rural Wind River, Wyoming, it's a true Western at heart. The best Western since "No Country for Old Men" mind you. The setting is chilling. Literally. Sub-zero conditions in the spring in the Rocky Mountains, we find a young woman barefoot and frozen to death. Ruled a homicide, the local tribal police call in the FBI, and we meet agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen). She enlists the help of local fish and wildlife hunter Corey Lambert (Jeremy Renner) and with chief Ben (Graham Greene), they begin the search for the guilty murderer. As the clues lead them where they don't want to go, they search for justice for the woman's family, and closure for the community.

The brilliance is in the small things. From the supporting characters who make the most of single scenes, to the stationary camera shots just perfectly capturing the majestic setting. There is a melancholy sense of beauty, desperation, and isolation while presenting it in a freezing climate that makes you shiver in your seat. The dialogue is witty, but not contrived. It drives the narrative like a well-oiled machine, whether it's the whimsical ruminations or the necessary prose targeting the audience.

The climactic finale should go down in history as one of the finer and more harrowing extended scenes in recent memory. In fact, I couldn't stop thinking about it for nearly a day. Sheridan has a way of bringing out the raw, primal emotions in his actors, whether he's behind the camera or the written narrative. Taylor Sheridan is simply my new favorite (Sorry Coen Brothers). He is a master of the modern Western in the way that can only be compared to author Cormac McCarthy.

Jeremy Renner delivers what might be his finest performance yet, even moreso than "The Hurt Locker." He embraces his character and shows us the pain he carries behind his eyes in every scene, while being the heroic semi-reluctant protagonist that the film needs. In fact, this performance will almost make you forget about Hawkeye, who is clearly the weakest of all the Avengers.

"Wind River" is simply stunning. It currently sits atop my best pictures of the year, and it will take something quite stunning to knock it off its perch (there are a few contenders on the horizon). I would expect five awards nominations; actor, picture, director, writer, cinematographer. With an August release, the odds are stacked against the film at this point, but I for one won't forget about it anytime soon. 9/10.