The Revenant Review

Rating: 10/10 (4 January 2017)

Inspired by the story of American fur trapper and frontiersman Hugh Glass who survived a bear attack in the 1820s, Alejandro González Iñárritu created the exquisite and high-class masterpiece The Revenant (2015). The film's captivating screenplay by Mark L. Smith and Iñárritu, the breath- taking landscape shots by the extraordinary cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki and the outstanding actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson and Will Poulter are responsible for my favourite cinematic experience of all time.
A group of American trappers take part in an expedition along the Missouri river under Andrew Henry (Gleeson), when they are ambushed by Native American warriors. While the men try to get back cross-country, Hugh Glass (Oscar-winner DiCaprio) is mauled by a bear. John Fitzgerald (Hardy), although convinced Glass should be given the coup de grâce, and Jim Bridger (Poulter) agree to take him home for extra pay. However, the two leave Glass to die in the woods and return without him, telling everyone he was properly buried. Glass fights for survival and makes his way back to get revenge.
The film's staggering narrative and storytelling fascinated me when I first watched the film in the cinema. Because of my interest in film-making, I immediately noticed Emmanuel Lubezki's brilliant work of cinematography; his using of sweeping widescreen lenses for his breath-taking landscape shots and close-ups, the phenomenal tracking shots and the ingenious lengthy takes with almost no apparent edits made me more than a spectator – I felt as if I was out there in the cold with Glass, trying to survive in the wilderness. The Revenant not only let me immerse in the film – I was a part of it. During those two hours, I forgot the world around me and the fact that I was sitting in a cinema, all due to Iñárritu's absorbing storytelling.
Having adored Leonardo DiCaprio's acting in many films before, his performance in The Revenant topped everything I had ever seen because for this character he put emphasises on physicality rather than discourse. As Glass suffers – amongst other injuries – a wound to the throat which costs him his voice, DiCaprio acted merely through mimics, body language and occasional grunting, which left me speechless.
Iñárritu's thrilling story about revenge against nature and against people is brilliantly told through excellent camera work and acting like I have never seen before and deserves its three Academy Awards.