Iñárritu + Lubezki = Oscars

Rating: 10/10 (26 June 2016)

For the second consecutive year, Alejandro González Iñárritu has directed my favourite film of the year. His partnership with Emmanuel Lubezki, anticipated to win his record- setting third straight Academy Award for cinematography, is unparalleled in Hollywood. Their combination of artistic vision and technical capacity has produced an astonishing film.
The Revenant is a story set in the 1820's about a fur trader named John Glass, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, who is attacked by a bear and left for dead by his companions.
The opening scene, which took a month to rehearse, has as many moving parts as a finely crafted watch. The fur traders' camp is attacked by a band of Arikara Indians who are looking for the Chief's captured daughter. The opening salvo, an arrow through the neck, triggers a cascading battle sequence as the traders attempt to save their booty and their lives. This is when Lubezki is at his best. His technical capability is on full display as he captures the action in one uninterrupted shot, highlighted by moving the camera from a stationary position to a horse in full gallop without cutting. Lubezki's insistence on using natural light, surely influenced by his previous work with Terrence Malick, presented a unique challenge given that the film was shot in the dead of winter, but once executed, rewards the audience with breathtaking scenery.
Supported by a talented cast, including standout Will Poulter, Leo and Tom Hardy are exemplary. Leo will win his first Oscar, and not because of his body of work, but because he deserves it.