The Revenant

Opening:
As I approached the theater to see it, I was thinking to myself, “Leonardo DiCaprio goes into hiding in the woods, grows a beard, and wrestles a bear. It's either "The Revenant" or a documentary of Leo going insane after his last Oscar loss.” Terrible jokes aside, there is a reason why this is Reesa’s and my favorite film of 2015. Let’s get real and break this down.

Plot:
A frontiersman named Hugh Glass on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s is on a quest for survival after being brutally mauled by a bear.

Directing/Writing

Pros:
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, director of last year’s best picture winner Birdman, does it again and brings us a visceral, brutal experience of survival in the harsh wilderness. All in all, this is a revenge story and the film doesn’t let go. Every single frame you are on the edge of your seat in bone chilling suspense and sheer awe from the luscious imagery. You always felt cold and like you are going along on this harrowing journey.

Cons:
If I had to make any criticism, the writing isn’t particularly strong. It’s there and it moves the story along, but you won’t sit there going, “Well, that story and dialogue was top-notch.” The visuals sweep you off your feet and keep your eyes glued.

Acting

Pros:
Leonardo DiCaprio gives one of the best performances of the year and of his career. I felt the rage, pain, and despair throughout his character and I wanted him to succeed in the end. Leo’s dedication seeps through the screen as your jaw is dropping when you realize what he is doing is out in actual cold landscapes, it’s quite amazing to witness. Tom Hardy plays an A-Hole and he plays a dang good one. The supporting cast is also good as Will Poulter surprised me with an unexpected great performance.

Cons:
Domhnall Gleeson was good and everything but I didn’t really buy into a certain choice he makes, however, I understand why he did it. You will know when you see it.

Cinematography

Pros:
Emmanuel Lubezki is one of the best cinematographers in the business and every time he shoots a films it is a painting come to life. This film is no different. It is the most beautiful film of 2015. The harsh environment is filmed in a rich, dream-like, gorgeous way that the cinematography is, without a doubt, the best thing about this film. I also have to give huge accolades to Inarritu and Lubezki for wanting to shoot in natural light to get the most authentic feel.

Cons:
None.

Editing/Special Effects

Pros:
The gorgeous imagery and grounded performances keep you interested throughout. The infamous “bear scene” is one of those scenes you will be talking about for quite some time. The special effects, acting, and cinematography in that scene are so impressive that it boggles my mind on how they created that scene with a CGI bear and the fact that it was shot in natural light.

Cons:
It clocks in at about two hours and forty minutes and, for some people, it can seem boring and repetitive, really weighing the film down. This is a long movie, but for me, it was engaging. It won’t be for everyone.


Overall:
This felt like I was transported into a brutal, breathtaking, dream set in 1800’s frontier times that I didn’t want to wake up from. This grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. This is my favorite film of 2015.

Grade: A
(Review by Chase Lee)