After he is mauled by a bear and left for dead, a frontiersman fights
for survival in the wilderness so he can avenge his son's murder. BIOPIC/DRAMA
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The Revenant (2015)Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu
Written by Mark L. Smith and Alejandro González Iñárritu Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter, Forrest Goodluck Based on the book by Michael Punke Oscar Wins - Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Director, Best Cinematography Oscar Nominations - Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Tom Hardy), Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects |
Brutal, uncompromising, and intense. These are three words that describe Alejandro González Iñárritu's The Revenant to a T. This film is intricately crafted to tell the story of a man who refused to accept death and did everything it took to have his revenge. Led by one of the most captivating performances of all time, this film shows the lengths one will go to in order to survive, as well as the true strength of the human spirit. Based on the true story of frontiersman Hugh Glass, The Revenant is Leonardo DiCaprio's finest performance to date and will no doubt go down as Iñárritu's masterpiece.
DiCaprio delivers a performance that is nothing short of masterful, going to insane lengths to bring his very best to the role of Hugh Glass. While watching the film, it was painfully obvious that DiCaprio did literally anything it took in order to give a great performance. Hell, his acting during the bear scene alone is enough to net him accolades across the board. Alongside him was Tom Hardy as the deceitful, traitorous John Fitzgerald. Hardy is always a reliable actor, and hopefully his villainous turn in this film won't go unnoticed. Glass's relentless pursuit of Fitzgerald was the only thing that kept him alive and by the time their confrontation rolls around, we're treated to a brutal fight scene that constantly reminds us of everything Glass has been through to get here. When the credits rolled, I felt tired and worn out, like I'd been through the journey with him. The Revenant uses natural lighting and remarkable cinematography tricks in order to capture the essence of the American frontier in the 1820's. Iñárritu's signature style of long, continuous takes enhances this film's realism and entrances the audience. This film is one of the most well-made films of the year and deserves every award it gets. On the strength of the performances alone, The Revenant is nothing less than brilliant. |
Like my fellow reviewer stated, The Revenant is a brutal, uncompromising, and downright tense movie. There's just no other way to say it. A film that shows what the human body, and spirit, are truly capable of under times of extreme circumstances. A film that honestly portrays the human will to survive and how far one is willing to go. Led by a grand slam of a performance from Leonardo DiCaprio, gorgeous cinematography, and amazing camera work; The Revenant is a must see film. One that will go down in cinema history books as a true classic.
DiCaprio delivers the performance of his career as real life frontiersman Hugh Glass. Just like in the movie, he is fully committed to the role, going to extraordinary lengths to master every once of the character. All the more impressive when you consider he has very little dialogue in the entire film. Not lacking far behind him is Tom Hardy as John Fitzgerald. Hardy has proven to be reliable and he certainly doesn't disappoint here. He plays a downright psychotic, and at times sickening, character who you most definitely won't forget. To back up the performances, the film features several nail biting moments. Scenes like the opening Native American attack, the bear mauling, and when the same Native Americans are about to ambush a sleeping Glass are some of the most intense scenes ever committed to film. To add to the tension, the director was smart to use his signature camera trick. Instead of constantly cutting between action beats, he simply followed them as if it was one single, continuous take. This lead to the above mentioned scenes to come across as more brutal and realistic. Finally, the cinematography is gorgeous and a testament that there's nothing wrong with natural lighting in films. While I've always been a sucker for survival films, none have blown me away as much as The Revenant did. A simple story of a man who was willing to go to great, and extreme, lengths so he can avenge the very person who killed his son and left him to die turned into one of the best films I've seen in a while. Leonardo DiCaprio has given the performance of his career and deserves the Oscar that has eluded him for so long. The Revenant in general deserves most of the awards it's been nominated for. A brilliant, stunning film that explores the human will to survive. |