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As an avid member of the highly unofficial "Let's get Leo to
finally win an Oscar" group, I really did have exceptionally high hopes
for this film, directed by the same Mexican genius (Alejandro González
Iñárritu) that brought us Birdman about a year ago.
First thing you need to know is that The Revenant is as visceral and
unforgiving as it is beautiful and majestic. As is the case with Birdman, The
Revenant shines blindingly brightly when it comes to the cinematography. The
landscapes and general environment in which the film's events play out in
allows for a plethora of awestrucking scenes and moments. Pair this with
Alejandro's painstaking attention to the minutest of details and you are left
with an amazing overall product.
The Revenant does a masterful job in carefully juxtaposing scenes of
extreme quietness and tranquillity with moments of profound dread and anxiety.
Be warned: there is an intense visceral aspect to the film that will take the
wind out of your sails on numerous occasions, with some scenes proving quite
difficult to 'stomach' (there's a funny, yet relatively inappropriate nod to
the film's plot here, by the way). In saying that though, nothing ever feels
too over-the-top or as if any particular scene was only added for sheer shock value.
At the end of the film, you'll come to realize that every scene has a highly
functional role in that it all ultimately allows the film to expertly
showcase the unforgiving nature of both the wild and more importantly, mankind
itself in a way that will leave its viewer profoundly impacted.
And then of course, there's Leo's Oscar-worthy performance (I write
whilst simultaneously trying to hold all the thumbs in my possession). What's
most intriguing about Leo's performance is that it's one with very minimal
dialogue, as Leo is for most of the film's runtime, either incapable of
talking or, not around other humans to converse with in the first place. Leo is
therefore forced to mostly utilise non-verbal emotes to communicate a wide
range of extreme emotional states: from love, care, fear, distress, hope,
sadness, hate, dread, anger and hopelessness (to name but a few). Leo really
does an exceptional job in showcasing the impact and extremity of the events
that his character is subjected to during the course of the film. Although a
lot of praise must go to DiCaprio, it's important to also give a nod to the
rest of the cast, in particular Tom Hardy as the film's main antagonist and Domhnall
Gleeson as a strong-willed and righteous commander, known primarily for his
role in the Harry Potter series of films.
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| Life just got really tough, really fast. |
There's a lot more to say about Alejandro's latest masterpiece, but at
the end of the day, all you really need to know is that although it's a film
that will be emotionally taxing to endure, it's a powerful and impactful
journey that is definitely worth each moment of potential distress and
discomfort.
Highlight:
There is a scene involving a furry animal that will leave you awe.
