The one where Inarritu, Leo, Tom Hardy and Lubezki got together

Rating: 9/10 (5 January 2016)

9/10 *Even though this movie showcases my favorite actor and favorite cinematographer at their very best,THIS IS AN UNBIASED REVIEW*
I had been waiting for this movie since long because of the big names it carried and boy was I impressed! Hugh Glass, the American frontiersman played by Leonardo, is left to dead by his men after being badly injured in a deadly combat with a bear in the wild, in perhaps the most amazing scene of the movie. What follows is an excruciating (in real) and amazing (in reel) journey of survival in the most gruesome conditions. The Revenant rides off to a brilliant start with the first few minutes already setting up the mood for the tale to be followed. But, hold on, this isn't just another "Cast Away". Inarritu gave a blend of humane touch with spirituality to it and made the movie appealing and poignant. Glass's character is developed as he makes his way battling against death. Glass does it all. Fighting against a wild bear, healing himself in the weirdest places, sleeping inside an animal carcass and many other things. Leonardo gave another 'Oscar-worthy' performance and chances are high that this could be it. Tom Hardy, however, is the surprise package of the movie. Had I not known before that Tom Hardy is acting in this movie, I'd have totally failed to recognize him. (Give the poor soul a movie where he can carry a normal look!) He has given an equally powerful performance as Leo's and develops as a great antagonist with his crispy accent. There are some very powerful scenes in the movies that you can expect from any movie which has Lubezki as its cinematographer. He's the master of his skill and perfectly shoots every scene. The art of cinematography and camera work is yet to be learnt from him by many on how to develop the best intensity in a shot. Lubezki uses lenses to capture the gruesome cold almost as if you could feel Glass's struggle to catch his breath and the 'longers' to develop the intensity of the combats. The usual metaphorical elements that Inarritu is expert at, and the fantastic acting that the leads have done, add to the brilliance of every scene. The movie carries on with a slow pace, just like you'd expect from a survival tale. It has its ups and downs. Some pretty intense scene and some scenes where one might catch a yawn or two but Inarritu makes sure the same tone is maintained throughout. Inarritu has given his usual strokes in between embellishing the script even further. To be honest, this could have just been an average movie had Inarritu not directed it. The visually stunning cinematography and the great performances are its backbones and they support the movie throughout. It's a great adaptation of the novel but more than that, the movie carries on its own due to the amazing teamwork by each and every unit of the movie.