Movie Review
Review The Revenant
A revengeful survivor story set in a terrific landscape.
The audience is introduced to explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) early on in the film. A legend in his own right, Glass is charged with making sure his fellow fur trappers get home safely, as he is the one who knows the open country best. Joined by his son, Hawk (Forrest Goodluck) who is half Native American, Hugh is no stranger to tragedy. His Native American wife was killed by white soldiers, devastating Hugh and set him on a vagabond lifestyle afraid to call anywhere home too long. Along the journey, a long (seemingly endless) winter ensues and the group is forced to make difficult decisions to get home safely. Glass is seen as the most knowledgeable in regards to traveling which upsets another group member, John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) who almost always disagrees with Glass's assessment of whatever situation is at hand. After being viciously attacked by a bear, Glass is rendered incapacitated, unable to speak, and reliant on the group to return him to full health. The more brutal the winter becomes, the more Fitzgerald wants to leave Glass for dead and make headway along with the men, taking their firs to a big payday that awaits. Captain Andrew Henry (Domhnall Gleeson), unable to pull the trigger and put Glass out of his misery, splits the group up, leaving Glass, Hawk, and the young Bridger (Will Poulter) to care for him and return home. Seeing an opportunity, Fitzgerald volunteers to join the boys and Glass along the way. After a scuffle with Hawk, then tricking Bridger, convincing him there are Native Americans on their trail ready to kill them, they leave Glass behind to fend for himself. In abandoning Glass, Fitzgerald goes against Captain Henry's orders that if Glass should take a turn for the worst, he is to have a proper burial. Believing he will die, Fitzgerald goes about traversing the wilderness with the unwilling Bridger (who sees what kind of man Fitzgerald really is). With nothing but anger and will power assisting him, Glass vows recovery with the notion that he will hunt Fitzgerald down over his betrayal. Forever dedicated to the memory of his family, Glass fervently searches revenge as vengeance overwhelms him.
If you asked what The Revenant is in one word it would be visceral. For most of Glass's journey he is alone, and that means much of the film is without dialogue. The film chooses to tell its story through visuals instead, and this is certainly helped by the beautiful cinematography. The shots are so wide and expansive showing a huge, empty, snow- covered land that Glass must trek. It truly is so breathtaking that it seems to almost be alien, the land seems so unfamiliar by today's highly modernized society that the film is almost a fantasy. However, there is a point where the expansive shots become somewhat intrusive and break the narrative's flow, but it is hard to complain as each one is more beautiful than the last. There are also many nuances that help the film become more immersive, such as when characters breathe the camera lens will become foggy or the camera will switch from the perspective of the character to the perspective of the audience (This entails parts that go from a first person perspective to a third person perspective). These are small details, but they help the film create a much more realistic world. If you were forced to describe The Revenant with another word it would be unpleasant. From the brutally clear sound mixing to the downright terrifying action sequences, The Revenant is not for the faint of heart. The film immerses you in its reality, but that reality is an incredibly brutal one. Some scenes go on for so long while Glass endures such physical pain that is hard to watch, let alone stomach. Even the sounds and sights can be disorienting, confusing or just downright painful (such as one part where a man repeatedly scrapes a knife against a canteen) and even though the film going experience is certainly not a fun one because of this, but it almost puts you in Glass's shoes by subjecting you to the harsh reality that he lives in.
It is, I would say, 100% guaranteed that Leonardo will finally win an Oscar. His role was the hardest one this year and he pulled it of beautifully. Maybe his best acting job ever. Tom Hardy, brilliant actor with huge potential. Great acting from him, not just in this movie, but in all movies he stared in 2015. Three great movies and three great acting performances from him. He worked hard in 2015 and has done everything beautifully, so he deserves an Oscar.
(Note : I didn't know it was Tom Hardy as Fitzgerald until the first 45 minutes LOL)
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