The Art of the Frontier Trilogy 

Big fan of Sheridan’s work. Wind River was one of my favourite movies last year, as was hell of highwater was the year before that. Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen were fucking fantastic in wind river and it’s shame they got no Oscar love.

Wind River was awesome one of the top movies from 2017. Criminally underrated.

Wind River was the most eye opening and hardest to watch.

I LOVE THIS TRILOGY, Wind River was highly underrated and not talked about nearly enough. That movie is so wickedly unique and clever, incredibly well done, can't wait to see what Sheridan does with Soldado

The shootout in Wind River was so well done.

I've watched Wind River over ten times. I love the acting! The scenes without dialogue are the best. When she sees the mother cutting herself, the father's face crumpling when he opens the door to see his friend.

This "trilogy" is my absolute favorite thing of the last decade. I adore them.

Wind River should've gotten Best Picture, Best Directing and Best Writing nomination, and Jeremy Renner deserved Best Actor. Same with Sicario and Benicio Del Toro.

Haven't watched Sicario but i've loved Wind River and Hell or High Water (so underrated). I remember being so shocked to find out the police officer from Sons of Anarchy is such a talented man in real life

Taylor Sheridan is without a shadow of a doubt THE MOST IMPORTANT & interesting voice in current American cinema. Great video btw.

Taylor Sheridan is my favourite writer to appear in the past few years and is already up there among the likes of Sorkin and McDoangh for me. His style is just something that hits all of my cinematic sensibilities with ease.

Fabulous synopsis of three of the better films made in the past couple of years. Seen all three of these films and they are all tremendous. Sheridan is a genius IMO.

Jeremy Reiner is the most underrated "action star". Wind river I just randomly watched on Netflix because I find that part of the country interesting. Woah was it a surprise to just watch IMO a modern classic, a movie that had great acting, a message most can get behind (not overly political in these times), a just brutal fight scene that felt out of no where considering the rest was reasonably slow. On top of the shoot out being one of the most realistic fight scenes in recent memory. People not dying after one shot to the chest and kinda awkwardly laying there alive but not able to truly fight back anymore, realistic gun physics, showing ARs compared to pistols are hardly comparable in a duel etc, truly amazing. Then Jeremy playing a character that is the hero but in most moral senses not a true fault less hero. Yeah he did it for his friend but also selfishly to take revenge for himself and straight up murdering people. That made his character sooo utterly believable and real that it still sticks in my mind. I actually haven't seen the other two movies but now I feel I have to hunt down where I can stream them and watch ASAP. Not sure how they will beat wind river, solely on the beauty of the landscape.

I love this Trilogy. Wind River was a major influence in my own work. Good job!

Wind River stabbed me in the heart. Matt and Natalie were so happy, and then.

I loved these movies. I had no idea they were by the same dude. Living in Arizona I see a lot of what these films are about. Drugs and the cartel, poverty and getting fucked by banks, native Americans and the way they’ve been torn apart by the US. People have desert parties here, just go out to the middle of the desert with a keg. It’s almost dangerous for cops to break up a desert party because when they show up, everyone scatters and they could get stuck wandering and succumb to the elements.

taylor be a talented filmmaker hope he can keep it up

I’m in love with Sheridan’s work

One of the best videos you've done. I feel that "Hell or High Water" was the best film of 2016, but only made $27 million at the box office and didn't get the recognition it deserved. I like your approach calling it a trilogy of three different movies. I agree that in an ever increasing globalize world, the people in the frontier are being forgotten and have no faith in government. Can't wait for Sicario 2 and see if it continues the theme of Sicario, or is it just a shoot em up movie with no real depth.

I am from Winnipeg Manitoba Canada. Wind River hits hard because i know how real that film is throughout my home city and province. I find this analysis interesting because it lacks a major recognition on the consequences of colonialism on first nations, while putting much of the conflict in Wind River on the environment. While that may be true, i imagine a Canadian, especially one with an indigenous background (which i am not) might analyze it differently. Great video!! Love this trilogy!

Late to this, but amazing video. Very impressed!

Excellent breakdown Ryan. Taylor Sheridan is one damn talented writer, and all three films in this trilogy are modern day film classics.

You do some of the best film analysis videos on RU-vid, keep it up!

I feel that this trilogy deserves waaay more love that it has received. Thank you for a really insightful and deeper look into these films that I love. Can't wait to re-watch whilst bearing this video in mind.

Wind River was easily my favorite film of 2017 (most of that could be I'm a huge Native American sympathizer), it's probably my favorite out of the trilogy but I will admit Sicario was probably the most well made out of the trilogy. Nonetheless all three are important films especially if you look at it as presented in this video. I honestly didn't notice the political/economical/cultural trend until this video and makes me appreciate the trilogy a lot more now. P.S. I'm a new subscriber and these two recent videos both discussed 2/5 of my favorite films of last year, looking forward for more of your content.

Wind river was so hauntingly good!! It is the finest of these films and sticks with you !!!

As someone who lives on the edge of (and at times smack dab in the middle of) "the american frontier", i forget how impactful it can be thematically and stylistically to people. (Live in Texas)

I haven't seen any of these films yet (regretfully) however Wind River seems like it would be right up my alley.

I've been going through your video backlog since I found it earlier this week and this is one of the most insightful and thought provoking videos I've seen so far. I'm really impressed with the take on it, and grateful I was able to watch this since none of those movies are ones I would seek out to watch for myself.

Amazing work. Loved it and love all three films.

Actually, everybody is misreading that last scene in Sicario. Alejandro is not menacing Kate because he's corrupt, he's doing it because she "reminds him of his daughter." The affidavit is a pretense. He's threatening her to drive her out of the unit because if she stays, she'll die. It's a "land of wolves" and she is simply not a wolf. On some level she knows this, which is why she doesn't shoot him. Great flick, and I might add, some first-rate analysis here.

Sicario and Wind River was amazing. Yet to see Hell or high water

"You didn't see it." Most heartbreaking line.

Just finished Sicario, being the last of the 3 for me to see. Coming back to this video, I just want to say how well done it is. By far, the most interesting, fleshed out and thoughtful analysis's I've seen, on any movie(s). You do a damn good job and were a great influence to me watching these films. You helped establish a new depth and love for each of these films, especially the modern western. Very much looking forward to what you produce in the near future. Thank you for you hard work.

As a big fan of all the 3 films in this trilogy, this interpretation highlighting the common underlying ideas portrayed just blew my mind away! Awesome work!

This was the first of your videos I saw, and I just rewatched it. Such a lovely and nuanced analysis!

I honestly think this my favorite episode yet! Sheridan has a unique view and it's awe inspiring. Awesome Ryan!🤘🏾

Just wanted to say thanks my man, you've opened my eyes to a great many things with your videos. You've helped me understand media in a much richer and fulfilling way. Keep on doin' what youre doin'...

I absolutely love these films!​ Thanks for making this

Great video! I love hearing your take on film always giving insight on film that other channels just don't have

OMG, dude... This essay gave me goosebumps. Well done!

I watched sicario when it came out in 2015. Loved the setting so was eagerly anticipating the movie for a few months. Probably still one of my favourite but it wasn't till recently I had come to see Wind River and Hell or Highwater. What an amazing trilogy, every movie has you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Glad Hell or Highwater got some oscar love but the other deserved so much more than was given. All three are instant, modern classic IMO. Absolutely breathtaking.

I love this video! I love you talking about things you love! I love you!!!

I'm of the mind that "Hell or High Water" is the weakest of the three, and it's ironically the one that got the most attention. "Sicario" is an absolute masterpiece.

This was insanely comprehensive. I am a massive Sheridan fan, and have touched on a few of these subtext themes when discussing his films with friends - especially those who believe they are vapid films with not much to say beyond the surface, but I've never meditated on them enough to get as in-depth as you did.

If you're on SoundCloud, come listen and follow my dumb Podcast! soundcloud.com/user-354367183

This is a fabulous and well written episode. Fantastic work.

Wow, this really was eye-opening. I always liked the "Frontier Trilogy" and Sicario has become one of my favourite movies of all time, but I wasn´t able to find the words to explain why. You have found them and you´ve got a great understanding of subtext and motives. Thank you, I learned a lot about why I love these movies. Greetings from Germany.

Man, awesome video. I love all three of these movies, Sicario especially. Keep up the good work!

this is so good wtf how did i not know about your channel until now... i saw wind river when it came out and it was incredible

When I went to see sicario I hadn't seen the trailer so I thought it was going to be a fast and furious deal. I did not want to see it. But it turned out to be one of my top 100 films I've seen

I watched these movies because of this video. I really liked all of the movies and I see what Ryan was speaking to in this video essay. Great work on this one. Thank you for opening that door to watching these movies.

Just watched all three of these, what set me on this trail was No Country for Old Men, which i watched last month. I knew watching all of these that... questions were posed, assumptions challenged, and like you said there was no satisfying resolution to the story. Truly beautiful films and are up there with my favorites (Bladerunner 2049, Logan, Serenity, then No Country for Old Men, Windriver, Sicario, and Hell or High Water.) Thank you for the video man, was truly a pleasure to listen to this

This is one of my favorite trilogies and I love your take on it

As someone that grew up on a ranch and made a living as a professional rodeo cowboy, a lot of that frontier wildness speaks to me on a personal level. None of Taylor's work makes up my individual favorite movies of all time but I think when you put it all together it comes out as some of the best stuff I've ever seen. He manages to carry themes and motifs through all of his work that feel authentic and like he's saying something significant about life in the places he writes about.

Taylor Sheridan’s trilogy has been a major influence for a detective novel I’m writing. It’s deals with similar themes and setting, the cycle of crime and circumstance in the rapidly changing social and economic atmosphere of 1980’s Western Canada. I have very much modelled the tone after that of Sheridan’s work, violence is intense and unpleasant but occasionally necessary, but I aim to avoid an ending where the good guys win by shooting the bad guys.

Fantastic video with great analysis keep up the good work

Fantastic video Ryan!

I didn't realise these were all the same writer but having now seen all of them, I see. You explain it so well. Thanks for the vid.

Another great video ,,, hope you feel better soon brotha !

I think he just went to a few specific places in the USA and wrote stories that were like a sum total or inherent in them. Those stories smell so much of the land in which they were based....

Bravo! Fantastic video! Sheridan’s frontier trilogy has flown WAY too far under the radar. Glad you’re shining some well deserved light on it.

Brilliant dissection, man, especially on the theme of futility within an unjust system and people's desperate violence as a sometimes-unconscious-sometimes-deliberate reaction to it. I love Neo-Westerns and your essay is helping me understand why that is. Taylor Sheridan is a gem, and so are you, Ryan Hollinger. :)

Awesome video mate! Loved it

Fantastic job!

This is my all time favorite video essay! 10's across the board!!!

Thank you for talking about Wind River. It doesn't get enough attention. My brother in law is actually from Wind River Reservation and it really is harsh down there.

This was fantastic. I’m a huge Sheridan fan

Three excellent movies! You have covered them well in your video.

YES! I'm so glad someone made a video examining these movies as a trilogy. Fantastic work! You misspelled the man's name in the title, though (which is probly why I didn't find this video when searching his name). Should be *Taylor* Sheridan, not *Tyler*. ;)

Ryan, thank you so much for your videos. Im coming to realize how much i enjoy thinking deeply about film and your essays always give me things to ponder. How many time do you watch a movie before feeling like you understand it or appreciate it?

Great video mate

Thank you so much for this one. I hadn't heard of them but I love neo westerns so I was so excited that the 1st 2 were on Hulu. They were fantastic! Hell or High Water was the best bank robbing movie I have ever seen and I love movies about bank robberies so I have seen many. I can't wait to see wind river. Anyways I love this analysis about the themes. Well done. Love your channel!

All three of these films blew me away. Especially the transport section of Sicario and any dialogue from Ben foster in hell or high water

Great video. I think that the recurrent theme is just violent out of control vs violence under control, perfectly represented in sicario when they gun down the narcos on the treffic jam.

Really great video!!

Loved all 3 of these sad glorious movies! Sheridan improves in each one and I’m looking forward to his next script for the Sicario sequel later this year

Awesome video man

These movies helps me cope with my little town losing it. When the factories move away and people starts leaving too

have only heard of these movies in passing. will need to check them out

This is a brilliant trilogy of films, which I intend to watch more than once.

This is such a good channel

Loved this vid man, as well as all 3 movies, im going to to do a marathon now. Haha

brilliant work.

I've watched this four times. Awesome.

Didn't realize these three excellent films were linked. Thanks. .

Nice one. This might be your best, IMO. Thank you.

All three films are really awesome and this is good video.

AMAZING VIDEO!!!!!

such an amazing video on 3 films i LOVE but never saw the connection! if i could give this a thousand likes i would great job 👏 👏👏

Nicely done.

I love that this has brought up conversations about places in America that aren't Coastal Cities, places where everyone is poor and everyone is expected to more or less fend for themselves. I'm a West Virginia native and we deal with our fair share of willful police ineptitude, lack of Federal level concern, and within the last 5 years the Rape of the land and extraction of resources from outside forces that put no money back into the community they exploited. We are one more economic down turn away from being a Neo-western setting and if people who lived in metropolitan areas understood just what life was like here and places like it they would understand where people were coming from on the distrust of government and social systems and the need for firearms and self defense. Out here if you are murdered it simply will not be solved unless it happens in one of the towns in broad daylight, it has happened, and continues to happen. My small town in particular in the past 20 years has been used as the dumping ground for 4 murders, 2 of which were women who were never identified. In 1993 there was a gunfight that lasted 2 minutes between what can only be described as masked Vigilantes and 3 heroine dealers from Pittsburgh resulting in no casualties and the drug dealers leaving the area as reprisal for a local boy ODing and the police just left it alone. A large chunk of America is still "The Frontier" in a lot of ways, people just don't pay attention to it. There are still places where you can't get high-speed internet, no cell service, nooks and crannies unseen by human eyes for decades.

These three films are incredible and really turn the settings into their own characters. I haven't yet seen Sheridan's Yellowstone, but it looks to be a continuation of the setting forging the characters, not the other way around.

Loved this trilogy. Saw three all at the cinema. Wonderful direction and writing. I liked the way you spoke of the inconsquence of the character actions. It mirrors our own lives of nihilism and greed. What bout for your next film something else by elizabeth olson. Martha may marline or the BONE film i cant recall right now

Great analysis

Thanks Ryan, always enjoy hearing what you have to say. Sheridan is excellent.

Why do I just love these videos so much 😂😂

Three absolutely brilliant films!

I don't regret subscribing to your channel for a second. I loved Hell Or High Water and Sicario, but never saw Wind River. Feels do good to find a yputuber who has tastes so similar to mine.

It was a long time and well past all three films before I realised it was the Taylor Sheridan that was in Sons of Anarchy.