A few months ago as my family was traveling up to New Hampshire for vacation, I decided I would rent a Redbox for the ride. I finally chose "The Revenant," as I had heard good reviews and was interested in a drama or thriller type of movie. Here is my review.
Overall, I really enjoyed this movie! I mean, Leonardo DiCaprio did win his first Oscar for it, so it had to be good. The film is set in 19th century America as a group of fur traders attempt to traverse the wintery terrain of the continent in search of wealth. One trader (DiCaprio) is viciously attacked by a bear and left for dead, having to fight for his life amongst the harsh winter and the hostile bands of Native Americans in the area. The film details his incredible story of survival as he faces incredible odds, driven by a consuming revenge and a natural instinct of survival.
Firstly, the visuals of the movie are stunning. They feature vast expanses of snow covered mountains, long and winding rivers, and exceptional action scenes. The scene in which DiCaprio is mauled by a bear, though disturbing, is very realistically done. It is very apparent that the cast and crew put in countless hours to ensure that each shot conveyed the feelings of loneliness and hopelessness that gives the movie its unique feel.
Secondly, the acting is superb. DiCaprio's praise was certainly well deserved! He is able to convey so many emotions, from terror to confusion, from helplessness to elation. And he did all of this without uttering a single word! Not to mention, he had to perform all alone, with no other actors for the majority of the film. Job well done! The other supporting actors in the film certainly delivered as well, most notably Domhnall Gleeson as expedition leader, Andrew Henry, and Tom Hardy as the main antagonist, John Fitzgerald. All the actors in "The Revenant" help to create a realistic atmosphere, taking the viewers back in time and really investing them in the story.
Finally, the story itself is captivating. As with any story of survival, it is intense, thrilling, and suspenseful. DiCaprio's character, Hugh Glass, must do unspeakable things to survive, from sliding into a freezing stream in order to avoid Indian attacks to literally cutting open a horse and using its carcass to escape from the cold. In the film, Glass must conquer hardship after hardship, slowly crawling and scraping through the cold snow, using sheer willpower to inch closer and closer to salvation. His psychological state is also shown through stark and beautiful visuals as he imagines his wife and son, using their memories as fuel to continue onward. The resolve of the film is also extremely cathartic. Glass gets his well-deserved revenge and arrives to safety, though forever a changed man.
"The Revenant," for me, lived up to its good reputation. Though it is not the most satisfying or cheerful film, it is extremely emotional, and it takes a look into the human mind, our natural instinct to survive. I would certainly recommend the film to anyone!
