Excellent film, brilliant Di Caprio

Rating: 8/10 (4 January 2016)

Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu swept the most prestigious awards in 2014 with "Birdman". He came back in 2015 with a totally different film, which may (and should) give Leonardo Di Caprio a well-deserved Oscar for Best Actor.
The film's direction, cinematography and entire mise-en-scène are absolutely magnificent and absorbing. It's a film depicting a frightening scenery in Upper Midwestern United States (although it was shot mainly in Canada) with the elements of nature (snow, wind, waterfalls) playing a major part. And amidst this fascinating background, an injured man left for dead (Di Caprio) fights nature, his wounds, a tribe of Indians and many other obstacles to find the man who killed his son and left him for dead (Tom Hardy) and take his revenge.
It reminded me of many epic films of the past, especially ones when a character left for dead seeks retribution, such as "Gladiator". The film is an epic itself, and Di Caprio's performance is captivating, especially if you take into account how much demanding such a part was. Tom Hardy is also great as the cruel, sadistic, self-serving villain. Some scenes, including the climactic final one, are full of suspense and thrills.
The film should be a contender for the Oscars, especially in the Best Actor, Director, Cinematography and Sound categories. It was a film difficult and expensive to shot, demanding for both the cast and the crew. The only drawback is that it's a bit too long (150 mins), but in the end it's all worth it.
8-8,5/10