Classic Great Drama Outdoors

Rating: 8/10 (18 January 2016)

This is a well thought out and produced movie. It has some great scenic vistas and the surround sound matches the scenery. Think of Jack London's Call of the Wild here, though this film is so much more.
The cast does great in this film, though I honestly think because of the way the script is structured and the outdoor scenes are so well done, the actors are really not as important here. The drama and the script are, and it is all superb.
The story line is followed well and the action sequences are all really well done. Particularly the bear mauling the main character is amazingly portrayed. I do wonder how faithful to the book it is as I have not read this one yet.
Leonardo DiCaprio is superb, his best role yet. The film is set in French Canadian Northern Territory, though the time of it might actually be during the French and Indian war. The exact time is not important as is really not made clear, as a great drama is not about when but is about the action.
There is some French spoken which makes for subtitles and some sub- titles for the Native American spoken by the Native Americans as well. The main speaking in English in the film is done by the guy who would be classified as the bad guy in this. There is only one woman, a Native American, in the main cast and she is superb as well.
This film is getting deserved nominations and wins in the Awards Categories, and at least there is a minority in this film. The scenic vistas and sound should win some awards too. Very enjoyable dramatic effort by everyone involved. There is some R Rated materials and some depictions of life in the wild that are pretty raw as a warning for viewers who do not like that. That material is not the central theme here. Very good film, indeed.