A stunning film

Rating: 8/10 (18 February 2016)

THE REVENANT is directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy and Domhall Gleeson.
Set in the 1820s we follow the members of a fur trading group who operate under incredibly dangerous conditions. Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) is simply plying his trade with the help of his son, and is clearly an individual who is scarred by the events of his past, something we are alluded to throughout the film.
One of his expedition partners John Fitzgerald (Hardy) is a passionate man, one who simply wants to be paid his way, no matter what the cost. They are both lead by Captain Andrew Henry (Gleeson) who tries his best to keep order and stability in the group as they attempt to return home.
Each actor in this film gives a stellar performance, particularly DiCaprio and Hardy who play two very different but incredibly intense characters which you are unable to take your eyes off. Hardy is menacing, brooding and unforgiving, whilst DiCaprio is passionate and intense in equal measure. If both of these actors don't win an Oscar for their efforts they will no doubt feel hard done by, especially DiCaprio, who gives one of the best performances of his career.
Will Poulter also gives an engaging performance as the character of Bridger and Domhall Gleeson, an actor I admire greatly, does well here too. There is also a strong showing from the unknown entity Forrest Goodluck, who plays Hawk, the son of DiCaprio's character. A muted but incredibly polished performance will surely lead to great things for this young actor.
Iñárritu directs each of these actors incredibly well and professionally pulls us into this dog eat dog world where no one can be trusted. The cinematography is gorgeous, offering us sweeping, intense shots of the desolate and unforgiving landscape we find our characters within. The decision to film using only natural light was an incredibly admirable choice and one which pays off massively, lending the film an intense realism that is hard to pull away from.
My criticisms of this film are few, however I do have some gripes. Mainly with the pacing of the film which at times can be incredibly slow and measured, allowing the tension to build up, which may put off some viewers who are hoping for an action packed DiCaprio romp. The opening is a cataclysm of spectacle, but this slows down very quickly and we move along at a canter until the dramatic moments of the final act. The score on the other hand was a very muted but hauntingly beautiful work which punctuated and complimented every single scene it featured, making up for the somewhat snail pace and long, drawn out shots of the landscape which while beautiful, offered little to the flow of the story except as filler between story beats.
The most intense and incredible moment of this film is without doubt the infamous bear scene, which involves DiCaprio coming face to face with the brutal beast in what is a harrowing five minutes for the viewer, one which is both intensely realistic and fiercely brilliant. Without spoiling anything it is one of the most enthralling scenes you'll see this year and the execution of it is fantastic. DiCaprio really showing his incredible acting range in this film, particularly here.
The Revenant while slow, is an excellent piece of film making with a stand out performance from Leonardo DiCaprio, which should win him the Oscar he has been striving for all these years come and gone.
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