Grade: A-
Limited theater open on Dec. 25, 2015, widespread open in theaters Jan. 8
“The Revenant” is the latest film from Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who won three Oscars for the 2014 drama “Birdman.” It is a marvelous endurance test that leaves you exhausted and exhilarated. Featuring excellent performances from Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy, “The Revenant” is a drama that will make you grateful for the conveniences of modern life.
The movie is based on the true story of Hugh Glass. Glass was a member of a trapping expedition in the 1820s when he was mauled by a bear. Left for dead, Glass journeys against incredible odds to take revenge on the man who killed his half-Native American son.
DiCaprio plays Glass in a very indomitable performance. No matter how great the challenge — killing a bear, fighting a man to the death — DiCaprio makes the viewer think Glass can overcome it. DiCaprio makes you feel every injury Glass takes and does so with few words.
The supporting cast is excellent. Hardy approaches Shakespearean levels of villainy as the antagonist. Domhnall Gleeson continues to become one of my favorite contemporary actors with his performance as Captain Andrew Henry, one of the more moral characters in the film.
One of the unique things about “The Revenant” is its cinematography. The film was shot in remote parts of British Columbia and Argentina with almost entirely natural lighting. This made the shoot more difficult, but the results are worthwhile.
Distinguished cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki gets some of the greatest shots of his career in this film. One long shot, in which Glass walks through a snowy landscape, is as beautiful as anything I’ve ever seen on film.
“The Revenant” also features some thrilling long takes, depicting fierce battles and an exceptionally visceral bear attack. They’re entertaining and tiring in equal measure.
The film is 156 minutes long. The pace is alternately slow and fatiguing, or tense and electrifying. Either way, you’re going to want a nap at the end.
“The Revenant” has a scarcity of female characters. Glass’s wife appears in his dreams, and there is one Native American woman who exacts revenge on her rapist. However, they do not seem to have complex personalities on screen and get very little to do.
“The Revenant” provides a good lesson. It argues that no matter the challenges, human beings can overcome them if they persevere. It’s the same lesson as “The Martian,” but with less disco and more people getting shot by arrows.
Odds are you will be either worn out or galvanized by the end of this movie — probably both. Either way, the experience of seeing it is certainly worthwhile.
