Released: January 2016
Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Rated R
Run Time: 153 Minutes
Distributor: Fox Studios
Genre: Western, Drama, Thriller
Cast:
Leonardo DiCaprio: Hugh Glass
Tom Hardy: John Fitzgerald
Domhnall Gleeson: Captain Andrew Henry
Will Poulter: Bridger
Forrest Goodluck: Hawk
Duane Howard: Elk Dog
I have to confess something: When I first saw Leonardo DiCaprio’s face in the movie, Titanic, I didn’t think much of what I thought was a baby-faced twit. I thought this guy couldn’t possibly be a great actor. After finding real success in films like Romeo And Juliet, Blood Diamond, The Departed, Django Unchained, and Inception, my mind changed rather quickly. This man has such an incredible range, it’s really hard to deny his talent. He’s showed time and time again, that when given a proper role, he knocks it out of the park every single time. I have no idea why he hasn’t been nominated for an Academy Award or a Golden Globe for his achievements. Well, Mr. DiCaprio’s efforts have paid off. He’s won an Oscar for Best Performance by an Actor In A Leading Role, as well as a Golden Globe for the exact same thing. I’ll get into that a little later, but let’s just say all the hype surrounding The Revenant has paid off.
Based on true events surrounding the legendary frontiersman and fur trapper, Hugh Glass, The Revenant tells the story of a man who was betrayed by one of his team members and left for dead. Instead of dying, he fights back and hunts for the man who tried to kill him. The story of Hugh Glass is a violent one taking place in the Northern frontier of the United States during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The accuracy of Hugh Glass’s account has been a subject of much debate since there was no writing from Glass himself to corroborate his account. Regardless, Hugh Glass’s story is an incredible tale of survival in the harshest conditions while on a quest for revenge. This is an incredibly epic film. It starts out with an incredibly bloody and violent battle with the Arikara. From there it’s a trek through the wilderness to find safe haven at a nearby American settlement. This is not a story for the weak-hearted. It’s violent, bloody and brutal, but it does serve to illustrate how it was 200 years ago. I had never really known that much about Hugh Glass before The Revenant was announced, so I took the time to research the man. How the man survived was extraordinary.
All the hype surrounding this film is well-deserved. It is a fantastic piece of cinema that grabs you and doesn’t let go. There’s a lot of great things to talk about here. I already discussed the story, so I’m going to discuss the cinematography next. Wow. This is probably one of the most beautiful movies I’ve seen in a while. The film was shot mostly on location in Alberta, Canada, and the environment there is incredible. From the forests to the rivers, it really gives you that sense of isolation that was prevalent back in the day. There are some CGI shots, but that’s really to enhance the spectacle of the film’s environments. The Revenant won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for good reason. The shots are wide and spectacular. I mentioned that Leonardo DiCaprio won an Oscar AND a Golden Globe for Best Actor. I’ll tell you why: His performance in The Revenant is beyond incredible. He gets down and dirty and does most of his own stunts. The character’s encounter with a bear is brutal, leaving the character unable to speak after having his throat slashed. Because of that, DiCaprio has to express himself in other ways, and he’s absolutely phenomenal. Tom Hardy is also amazing. I’ve always been a big fan of Tom Hardy. He disappears into whatever role he gets. He delves so deep into the character, you can barely recognize Hardy at all. That’s the mark of a great actor. Everyone else does a really good job, including Domhnall Gleeson, who also appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
The action, while fairly sparse, hits fast and hits HARD. This is one of the most brutal Triple-A movies I’ve seen in years. Again, there’s a purpose to the violence, because that’s just how things were during that time. It was NOT pleasant. It was a very hard life for many of these men who ended up dying violently, either to animals or to the natives. So, that’s an element that really allows the reality of the situation to sink in. The music is exceptional as it is a collaboration between Ryuichi Sakamoto and Carston Nicolai. It hits the right notes of bleakness and despair. The film would also not have been as successful if it had been without the aid of actual Native Americans. They help to make the whole story and film as authentic as possible. So, kudos to them for willing to help make this film a reality.
My only real gripe with The Revenant is that it seems to run a little too long, but that’s a minor nitpick. The movie itself is a fantastic piece of cinema that’s been expertly directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. His attention to detail and the characters make this film an incredibly compelling experience. I honestly regret not seeing this one in theaters, but I’m glad to have had the opportunity to see it. While I don’t think it’s going to be everyone’s cup of tea, I do think that is worth taking a look at. The film has garnered an incredible following and has been lauded by many to be one of the best films of the year. I can’t disagree with that. It’s that damn good. Great acting, great story and great cinematography are just mere aspects of the epic scale of The Revenant. Leonardo DiCaprio and company should be proud of what they accomplished here. My final score is 10/10. Absolutely amazing.