The Revenant
A film that shows how Beauty and Brutality can coexist…
Let me begin by just stating that yes I am a cinephile and yes I am an Iñarritu fan boy. Now on the other hand, I am not a DiCaprio fan and, although, I do like the occasional western, I was not a bit interested about seeing a western starring Leo and directed by Iñarritu. In both of these cases, I was dead wrong!
The Revenant is based on the story of Hugh Glass, a Pennsylvania native who lived with the Pawnee Indians as one of their own. A hunter and leather and fur trader, Hugh lived around 1780 and this particular story of his life is what made him famous. Hugh Glass, played to perfection by Leonardo DiCaprio, is a hired scout by a leather trading company that would travel up and down the Rocky Mountains held by the Native American of the region of what is now South Dakota. During one of his scouting’s, Glass is mauled by a grizzly. After being unable to continue with a nearly dead Glass, Captain Andrew Henry (Domhall Gleeson) offers a hefty wager to two men who would stay behind to care for Glass until they could send more men to carry him and the furs back to base. Glass’ son Hawk (Forrest Goodluck) a half Pawnee Indian stays behind along with John Fitzferald (Tom Hardy) and Bridger (Will Pouler) to care for him. After only a few days Fitzgerald leaves Glass for dead and kills his son while he tried to defend his father from Fitzgerald. Bridger leaves as well unbeknownst to him that John has just killed and buried both men.
There are a few prologue scenes through out the film that show DiCaprio’s character life with the Pawnee Indians where he learned both the wilderness skills and the knowledge of the Native American people. He has a wife who gives him his son, and is killed when American soldiers ransack their village, and in one of the prologues we see Glass cradled by his son as he tells him “you don’t give up…as long as you can still grab a breath you keep breathing.” This sets up the format for the film and his epic trek back to life.
From the beginning of the film, one thing you see is the cinematography is superb. Iñarritu, once again teams up with former Birdman cinematographer, Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki. Winners of the academy awards last year for best director, best cinematography, and best film, Iñarritu and Lubezki deliver what will most likely be the dominant force at this years Academy Awards once again.
Shot entirely using natural light, Iñaritu and Lubezki draw the viewer in by placing them in the middle of the action. Using wide angle lenses Lubezki is a master of his craft an Iñarritu’s directing makes the two and a half hour film dare I say “painless”. The sets in this film are another part that cannot be undermined. Every aspect and the film is finely detailed and shows the dedication of both cast and crew. The Revenant is a superb tale of not only one man’s search for revenge but it tells the untold story of American history that ruined the native population, well before the settling of westerners. Although it is visually savage at times this film is a masterpiece. DiCaprio is not only well deserving of the best actor nomination, but I predict that this film will repeat Lubezki as the winner for best cinematography, and Iñarritu as best director. With 12 nominations at least 10 of them will be taken home.
10/10
by Hiram Trillo
