WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
What lengths would you go to right a wrong? More accurately, what depths would you plumb within yourself if faced with a reckoning needing to be leveled against another who has wronged you and those closest to you? What if that same person convinced others to leave you for dead in an unforgiving environment? Frontiersman and guide Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio), along with his half-Indian son Hawk (Forrest Goodluck), oversees a group of pelt hunters lead by Captain Andrew Henry (Domhnall Gleeson) and a rough-around-the-edges confidant, John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). When an initial calamity strikes the team, events only worsen when, escaping into the wilderness, Glass is mauled near to death by a bear. Cared for, but a burden, the outcome looks dire.
When Fitzgerald is in a position to exert his own “authority”, Glass is abandoned to the merciless winter conditions of America’s wilderness, forced to battle treacherous terrain, icy rivers, barren forests, hunger, savage temperatures, Indians, and even foreign traders just to survive. With his only goal being to locate Fitzgerald and bring him to justice for his actions, Glass’ journey causes him to reflect on family, which keeps him pushing forward on the path now chosen for him–redemption. Taking on all the anguish-laden impossibilities being thrown at him, Glass’ sheer force of will to endure and persevere is pushed to the limit, taxing both his already distressed body as well as his mind, relentlessly edging towards a fateful confrontation.
Next, my Mind:
Raw in its tone, intense in its drama, visceral in its displays of brutal frontier life and dangers, plus filled with daunting winter-infused mountains, forests, and plains settings fully embraced by superb cinematography, “The Revenant” is simply one epic undertaking. Obviously not a light-hearted adventure, writer/director Alejandro G. Inarritu delivers a well-conceived, edgy, gripping film which does move forward in its narrative with slow-burn intentionality, drawing the viewer along to the inevitable finale. The bear attack sequence alone is a harrowing ordeal to witness in its stark ferocity, yet one cannot help but marvel at how well filmed it is. Viewers also beware there is plenty of language and other graphic frontier violence present, plus other potentially unnerving scenes. But, it does get the film’s point across.
DiCaprio’s performance is, frankly, astounding as Glass, who truly bears (no pun intended, I promise!) far more grief, punishment, and other turmoil than one man should, yet digs deep and finds that inner fortitude to persist and aim towards revenge and absolution. Hardy’s Fitzgerald can be added to the pantheon of truly despicable characters, as he just flat out represents the worst of humanity and one who would rather line his own pockets as quickly as possible rather than sacrifice things for anyone else. And Hardy very solidly brings this nature out in the role. Solid supporting turns are found from Gleeson, Goodluck, and Will Poulter among others.
The overall pacing of “The Revenant” might trip some people up, especially given the story’s less than jovial, dark, and blunt presentation and 156-minute runtime, but if you can manage to stay with it, this is one fantastic piece of film work that deserves recognition.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
Must see! Agree with review. I think the movie is phenomenal !