The Revenant, the film of visceral and aesthetic yin and yang.

Rating: 10/10 (8 January 2016)

The Revenant is a film that works on a plethora of levels. It follows a fairly basic storyline that the average moviegoer could wholly understand. However, there is much more looming within the incredibly imagery and filmmaking of the Revenant than one might assume. The Revenant is not a film with a clear message, but instead one with many, small hints as to what the underlying implications are. Alejandro G. Innaritu's directorial style and choices shine through this film, creating a visceral and aesthetic yin and yang as we watch the gorgeous and gentle landscapes and scenery meld with the brutal, harsh storyline and occurrences. Leonardo Dicaprio's performance as Hugh Glass is one of little dialogue, but large impact, and may win him an Oscar this year. Tom Hardy's performance as John Fitzgerald is one that is possibly more exemplary than Dicaprio's, although that's up for debate. Although parts of this film are slightly too long winded or slow, overall it is a film that's imagery and story will resonate with the viewer long after watching it, and truly pays homage to the art of filmmaking.