GMM: The Revenant Movie Review, A Truly Heart Pounding Experience

Rating: 9/10 (10 January 2016)

An experience that finds you shivering throughout the whole film, The Revenant will turn any theater into the cold harsh wilderness of 1823. This is a film that puts viewers on the edge of their seats through most of its two and a half hours. Taking place in a land where danger lurks around any corner, and sleeping with one eye open is key for survival, The Revenant is an adventure only fit for those with a strong heart. Left for dead, the fearless frontiersman Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) must go toe to toe with Mother Nature herself as he struggles to survive the deadly winter elements of uncharted American territory.
This was one of the few films of recent years that truly makes you believe you are there watching the story unfold. Next time you want to say you are having the worst day ever, just think about Hugh Glass and what he had to undergo. With very few items on hand, every breath of survival was fueled by nothing but revenge for the man who put him in such a situation. A truly great performance by DiCaprio, viewers can really believe the struggle that he endures throughout his treacherous journey. Achieving the Golden Globe for best actor in a motion picture-drama was well deserved. The primary antagonist (the human one) John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) is due credit for his performance as well. It is clear these two actors deliver on screen when you find yourself rooting for Hugh to prevail, and hating every second Fitzgerald is alive.
Director Alejandro Iñárritu spends a good deal of time shooting the surrounding environment. In most cases, this could cause the film to seem as though it is dragging on, but not here. The Revenant is an incredible viewing experience, showing the wintry remote conditions of Canada and Southern Argentina. Part of this had to do with the film being shot in all natural light. This typically isn't done due to relying on the position of the sun and clouds, but it pays off as this is one of the most beautifully shot movies of 2015.
There is absolutely no shortage of heart pounding moments. The biggest being the encounter with a grizzly bear (the primary non-human protagonist). An incredibly impactful scene, it demonstrates the raw power such a creature can have. This moment will induce your fight or flight response as you are sitting in your soft, safe, theater seat. What Iñárritu does so well in this, and other action sequences, is shoot them in one continuous shot. Most other films will cut back and forth between characters or movements, The Revenant does not. Viewers will find that this puts more focus on the event as a whole, versus just the few who are involved.
The story was based on true events, which makes the movie inspiring, but runs the risk of reducing its impact as many viewers might know how the plot unfolds. However, even if you know how it concludes before entering the cinema, The Revenant is brilliant in showing how Glass struggles to reach that point. Though they partly explain why Glass is in a certain mind state during the film, the dream sequences he has do occur a little too much. Nearly every time Glass closes his eyes, he has obscure visions. So for those aren't particularly fond of this type of genre, it may seem somewhat boring, and these moments could highly contribute to that.
A magnificent feast for the eyes, The Revenant is absolutely one of the best films of 2015. With stellar performances and cinematography, it depicts just how resilient the human spirit can be. As a recommendation, it is best to see this in the theater. So don't just wait for it to come out on digital or DVD, get the most from this movie by seeing it on the big screen. A strong Oscar contender in multiple categories (and winning a few golden globes), The Revenant receives a well deserved 8.5/10. (IMDB only allows whole numbers so between either an 8 or 9, it deserves a 9).