The Perfect Epic.

Rating: 10/10 (13 January 2016)

'The Revenant' is a rare, perfect feature epic that is a must see for all those film buffs that yearn for a movie where the experience becomes an event. Films such as this are just not made, simply put in the 'too hard' basket because of the dedication that is required to pull off such a cinematic production. Only the very best in their chosen field can give such a story any justice and for once, Hollywood have got it right. So right in fact, that when I entered the theatre, I wasn't sure if I really wanted to be there. I was afraid that such a production wouldn't live up to my expectations but after the violent and intense opening scenes, my anxiety was quickly put to rest. I knew this was going to be an epic event and judging by the resounding silence by the audience, they knew it as well. Everyone had forgotten that they were cradling popcorn or holding their coke. All eyes were riveted to the screen and that is where they stayed for the rest of the movie.
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu is a modern day genius. His sublime vision as a Director could only have resulted in this masterpiece that will long be remembered as one of the great visceral narratives of all time. The commitment, the detail, the patience and the confronting realism that it took to bring 'The Revenant' to life is a minor miracle in itself. What Inarritu keeps doing as a Director is his obvious ability to take mammoth risks not for his own glory but to genuinely give the audience a film that they will remember. His use of natural light compliments the vastness of the environment that he places this story in, so much so, that 'The Revenant's' spectacular backdrop is undoubtedly an extra cast member. The whole spectacle of Inarritu's film is breathless.
Partly based on Michael Punke's book, the audience is immediately thrust into nineteenth century America, where the frontier is wild and dangerous to say the least. Legendary Explorer, Hugh Glass (Leonardo Di Caprio), leads a party of fur trappers into the unknown so they can go about their business of stripping the hides off the local wildlife. It isn't long before they are all set upon by native Pawnee Indians and a brutal and bloody clash ensues. With an intense and hasty retreat, the expedition finds themselves at the mercy of the harsh frontier environment. With the Pawnee closing in on their trail, the men must walk out of the wilderness on foot. Glass is ferociously attacked by a bear that leaves him within a half breath of his life. To make matters worse, the men desert him, leaving just his half breed son, Hawk (Forrest Goodluck), a young trapper named Bridger (Will Poulter) and the dangerous and conniving John Fitzgerald to look after him. Fitzgerald takes matters into his own hands and leaves Glass for dead, disposing of his son before fleeing with Bridger in toe. What results is an incredible tale of survival and revenge against insurmountable odds and a journey into the very depths of one man's soul as he fights his way out of the shadows and into the very personal realm of vengeance.
Leonardo Di Caprio is mesmerising as he fabricates one of the greatest performances ever seen on film. His involvement in the bear attack is worth the price of admission on its own. The reality of this murderous attack is extremely confronting but lays the platform for this extraordinary man's quest to live at all costs. Di Caprio has been at the top of his game for a while now but his complete transformation as Hugh Glass will long go down in cinematic history. The man is on another level and if he is not recognised by the Academy for this performance then it will be a travesty. Tom Hardy is the perfect adversary to Di Caprio's Glass. Fitzgerald is a sinister character where money is his only motive and Hardy plays him to perfection with his mumbling delivery of the dialogue only adding to the suspense. Tom is not afraid to explore his dark side and there is no doubt that he does this so well.
'The Revenant' is a must see film. Such a movie comes along once in a generation and it will be some time before we see anything remotely like this production. It is violent in parts and the reality of the story is confronting for the audience as we watch Glass fight and struggle to survive. But it is worth it.