Annoyingly unrealistic

Rating: 4/10 (17 February 2016)

So I, like most other reviewers, really enjoyed the amazing cinematography in this movie as well as the incredible locations... for that alone this movie deserves recognition and praise. I've never felt so up close an personal in a movie before. For this I give the movie 2 points.
The acting, at least the physical components of acting, was clearly excellent. I give the movie an additional 2 points for acting - especially by our two main characters.
But,
My mind just couldn't accept the situations that our hero Hugh Glass survived in this movie depiction of a story with apparently true elements. Survival under such conditions is simply not possible. My key example would have to be complete immersion in a river with water temperatures in the 32 to 40 degree (F) range for - what must have been at the very least - 15 to 20 minutes and perhaps longer. In these water temperatures, a person would have about 10 minutes before their movements would be weak, uncoordinated and ineffective; certainly not sufficient to drag ones self out of the water up a steep bank, collect wood, and start a fire. And I'm just talking about the water immersion! Moving from water at this temperature to winter air temperatures in the 20's or 30's, with everything you're wearing soaked, is not survivable. I could highlight the completely unbelievable nature of most of the situations experienced by Mr. Glass, but I think my point is made.
I wanted to suspend belief, I wanted him to survive, but the situations depicted in the film were just too extreme.
So no additional points because of this, in my opinion, fatal flaw.
As others have highlighted, the otherwise single track story line with largely undeveloped back-story and lack of dialogue also earned no additional points for my movie rating.
I wish had those 2 and a bit hours and the $16.38 I used up to see the movie back.