I really like it but I think it could have been great instead of good. The movie starts off by stating it based on actual facts or events or something. Knowing it was likely about Native women being raped and killed at alarming rates I had no problem with the statement and the awareness being brought to this important issue. I’ve read reports over the last few yrs and know it’s real.
Here’s my two issues with the film:
1. The climax came and went in 0-60. One minute they are approaching the white guys at the oil rig, within seconds suspicion of their involvement arises... A gun fight almost breaks out within minutes of meeting one another but no found evidence... they decide to calm themselves and then an all out war ensues a moment later. I wish they would have let that develop for another 15-20 minutes leading up to the big reveal and gun fight.
2. They make a political statement at the end about Native women going missing. I have zero problem with this statement and hope things improve for native women but in the context of this film the villains were 6 or so roughneck white guys. I’m no expert on native women and their disproportionate missing person cases but wouldn’t these women be victims by and large on reservations by fellow natives?
I’m just saying if the movie is to be based on the issues plaguing native women and if they intended to not just be an interesting film but also provide accuracy I would think the villains in the film would have also been natives to draw attention to the issue rather then plant ideas that white guys are just plucking women off of native reservations at random.
Now if this was just a film not attempting to follow facts then fine make the villains white guys and it’s no issue. It’s the end statement that could mislead ignorant people into thinking the missing native women cases are a race issue where my reading on the issue tells me it’s a reservation issue.
That said, Jeremy Renner was incredible. Overall it was a pretty darn good movie.