The Revenant is less of a character movie then one might expect. For all the time that we spend with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Hugh Glass, the film seems more concerned with the comparison and contrast of the peaceful wild, and the violent people that inhabit it. The Revenant is instead a realistic, and riveting film different than anything you might see otherwise. After Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is attacked by a wild animal (that is much more interesting when you consider that the animal itself seems to be in a more playful and protective mood than anything) Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) kills Hugh Glass’s boy, and leave Glass for dead. It’s up to a wounded Glass to get back to society, and take Fitzgerald out. Now, again that sound’s like a close story for the characters, and it really would be if there was more to do with the dialogue of the film. It’s a good thing that most of the film is left up to the emotions of the actors though, but when they do talk it’s mostly to explain part of their feelings. An extended monologue at the beginning of the film makes for the most obvious example of this but it's not close to a deal breaker. A lot of great action is written like that though. It just separates the audience from feeling more intimate toward the characters. That also might be a good thing though as a genuine connection to the characters might have been utterly scarring to anyone sitting in that audience, not that the film isn’t already. The conflict mainly comes through the juxtaposition director Alejandro G. Iñarritu, and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki create through the peaceful imagery of the wild, and the violent things that happen it. The results are shocking. All of these detachment flaws though are made up by the acting and technical prowess shown which is good enough to make this film most certainly the best film of the year (not my best though). The opening action sequence is so incredibly staged that theres an awe to watching it, and Iñarritu direction has yet again found a spectacular match with Emmanuel Lubezki’s use of tracking shots. Lubezki’s floaty uncut sequences are so intense, and beautiful and that intensity is matched by Leonardo DiCaprio. His Hugh Glass is a man of little words, but it’s a spectacular performance still.. DiCaprio has always been an expert of method acting, and according to those rules he probably and apparently went through hell during the shooting of this movie. This performance would be tough for anyone else, and it’s beautiful to see DiCaprio do it with ease. Also spectacular is Tom Hardy. Here he’s not quite as good as he was in Legend, but he works his generally thin character into someone who’s truly despicable, but has interesting motives to him. Plus, it’s Hardy so he’s adding everything he can to the role. Inarritu has out done himself as well. It’s tough for a director on a hard shoot, and the fact that his vision has come out so blazingly is impressive. I’ve spent a bit of time during this review railing against the things that The Revenant is lacking, and fear I may have in fact sold it short. As above I think it’s probably the best film made this year...just not my best. Everything that was done to get this movie made was worth it. I can’t think of a more suiting display of filmmaking craft. I give The Revenant a 10 out of 10. To those in St. Louis The Revenant is playing at the Hi-Pointe Theatre.
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December 2017
CategoriesAuthorHello welcome to FilmAnalyst. My name is Stephen Tronicek, and I really like movies. This is a way to get my opinions out to people. Thank you for visiting. |