GIVE THAT BEAR AN OSCAR! All bear things are ruined for me after watching Leo get attacked! Yogi Bear, Pooh Bear, Honey, and the Barenaked Ladies (I know, I know).
The Revenant is a film starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Tom Hardy. This story revolves around a group of fur trappers in the bitter cold frontier lands of America, a world constantly at war between the invading group white settlers and the Native Americans who feel pushed out. This film is a tale of survival. Having to abandon their boat and walk back to the fort, Hugh Glass, played by Leo, has to fight against all odds after a bear attacks and leaves him for dead. I won’t go into many more details because you know, spoilers; but just know that revenge and survival are the main themes to this story.
On another note, this movie might just be one of the most beautiful pieces of cinematography I have ever seen. Alejandro Iñárritu shows that once again he is the master of these long shots (and the whole movie is shot with natural light!). There is a shot in the beginning of the film where the fur traders are attacked by a group of Native Americans. That attack scene felt like one long continuous shot and completely sucks you into this film.
Beautiful symbolism and close up shots make you feel entrenched in the film instead of just watching it. Glass has to survive and fight every step (or crawl) along the way. Leo is getting the Oscar buzz for his role as Glass and it is well deserved. Without much dialog, his performance is based off physical acting which adds another layer to the movie’s dense structure.
Overall this film is definitely one to see on the big screen even just for the cinematography alone! Leo kills it, Tom Hardy kills it, and the rest of the supporting cast is fantastic as well.
4/ 5 bear claws