A gritty, brutal, jarring look into the journey of the folklore legend Hugh Glass.

Rating: 10/10 (1 January 2016)

I had been excited for this film since the first trailer came out, and let me say that it did not disappoint. I was a little worried from a few slightly negative reviews on YouTube. Many of these reviews complained that the film was slow. They're not wrong, but I thought it was slow in a good way. Anyway let me break it down.
The story was very well done. It starts off running with quite a lot of action and conflict at hand. The movie somehow makes you feel like you're with this group in the middle of the wilderness in the early 1800s.
Then there's the bear attack. It was one of the most intense, jarring, even disturbing scenes I've scene in cinema. I have no idea how the hell they did it, but it was excellently executed.
Moving into the second act, the film does slow down a bit. This is a complaint most people have, however I feel otherwise. Many westerns such as The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly have a similar slow pace. It's ultimately a good thing though as it draws out the tension more and raises the personal stakes for the protagonist.
Some people also complain about the spiritual visions that Glass has. I didn't mind them at all. It was a good way to forge a greater connection with the protagonist as we see the emotional trauma he's enduring. There are still some visions I didn't quite understand, so I plan on re-watching to analyze these.
Having been shot in natural light, it is perhaps one of the most beautiful looking films I've ever seen. Coupling this with really clean and heavy sound design and some pretty brutal parts made the movie feel real.The movie paints a very realistic portrait of the raw violence that occurred in this time period. By the end of it, you'll be thankful you never lived in the 1820s.
Keep in mind, if you're looking for an action-packed, fast paced adventure movie, you may be disappointed. This is more of a personal survival/revenge story.
And yes, Leo should win an Oscar for this one. There were a few times when his screams were so jarring and meaningful that I almost teared up.
Watch this movie.