The Revenant

Rating: 9/10 (7 February 2016)

The Revenant, was a film that with it's style and the way it was done certainly reminded me of films and directors of past and present, but overall it was a film experience that I will probably remember for quite some time. The film is supposedly based on a true story which is not necessarily a bad thing at all, but when you watch this film and see all that the characters go through, I think you will also be absolutely amazed that people could have actually gone through and lived like this and even survived some of these circumstances and situations. The film is so life like with it's makeup and set locations to it's wonderfully real and yet beautiful and almost mystical cinematography that we believe everything that is going on before us and the film affects us that more deeply because of how realistic and life like everything is. The film with it's filmmaking style as others have said, reminded me a fair bit of the grand epics of Stanley Kubrick like 2001: A Space Odyssey, or even The Shining at times and then you have some dreamlike sequences and shots that really compliment nature and the outdoors and really make it an important part of this film and some of those shots and dreamlike scenes reminded me of the work of Terrence Malick, and how nature and just beauty even when found in tragic situations and circumstances is always there and how nature and the outdoors is really a huge part of us and some of those particular sequences are beautiful to watch and Malick always used the world's best cinematographers and here Emmanuel Lubezki does the wonderful and is sure to win an Oscar for the film and what is further interesting is that Lubezki has also worked with Malick, on such films as the upcoming Knight of Cups, To the Wonder and Tree of Life. The film also at times reminded me in style of Paul Thomas Anderson's grand epic, There Will Be Blood and again that was not surprising because the production design was by the great Jack Fisk, who worked on There Will Be Blood as well as working with Malick on Knight of Cups, To the Wonder, The Thin Red Line, Days of Heaven and Badlands (some of those films he was the production designer and others the art director), so I think you can see where and why I base these connections. The Revenant, is certainly an experience and an assault on your senses and I mean that in the best way possible. Everything from the visuals which include wonderful cinematography to the haunting and yet thrilling musical score to just being one in the barren wilderness all brings together a feast and visual stimulation for your eyes, ears and every part of your body. It certainly is a film to see and behold. The story to the film is a fascinating one and that does really make you want to see where and what it will do next. The film is longer in length and for the most part does a really good job of handling a longer running time. I also liked the whole aspect of man versus man, man versus nature and even man versus animals that was incorporated into this story and yet again transports us to the wilderness and how these men were living and shows that you don't need a modern setting, or technology to make a film truly interesting, thrilling, or action packed because in this period piece film everything it needs for such a thrilling film is all right on display at it's disposal and with the exception of one scene in particular, the special effects are kept at a low level and natural effects such as make up and real environments are used instead and I found that it looks and gives us a more genuine feel and overall experience with the film that makes it feel more real. Leonardo DiCaprio who plays the lead character here does go through the unthinkable and just how he has the determination and strength to keep pressing on and ultimately trying to right a grievous wrong is fascinating to watch. DiCaprio put his body through what must have been a really intense and gruelling film shoot that looks like it was probably the most difficult film he has ever acted in. The results are great however as he gives us one of last year's best performances and will be sure to win an Oscar for his performance. This is a film not only about survival, but also about what really drives us in life and what we set forth as our missions and goals in life and how we set out to seek them no matter how tough it may seem. How the film also incorporates the native people into this story and giving them interesting roles that were not just stereotypes was another interesting aspect I also liked about the film. This is certainly a film with it's beautiful and mystical look will amaze you yet with it's brutality and honest and realistic depiction of these circumstances and settings makes The Revenant a film you will not soon forget which is the best compliment I can give the film and I truly do mean it.