The Revenant

 

As the first film of 2016, we're off to one hell of a start. 

The Revenant is a tour de force of talent from so many different people, it's a bit baffling that it came together as well as it did. I've spent the better part of my morning researching how the film was made. While I think we can all agree that being an actor isn't the most stressful job in the world, this was one shoot that sounded intense and depressing. More on that later, but suffice it to say that the final product warrants that extra effort given by all parties as it's a gripping, intense observation of a man's will to live (and kill) in a time of simplistic technology. 

And it might finally be that ticket that Leo needs to win the damn Oscar...

This ain't no Lord of the Rings journey...

As I do with most films of this quality, I'll get the things I didn't like out of the way first. Even before the final score you see at the bottom I'll say: this was very nearly an "Instant Classic" in my eyes. It has all the makings of one and a part of me just wants to ignore my qualms with it as it's definitely a film about the American pioneer that I'll remember for years to come. But there are some shortcomings. For starters, it's too long by about 15-20 minutes and I think that it has the syndrome of one too many things going wrong for our protagonist, Hugh Glass (DiCaprio). I sincerely believe that if his suffering could have been condensed just slightly, I'd be handing out a perfect score on my first film of the new year. But alas, it was not. Aside from some shaky CGI for basically every creature other than the infamous bear, my only other true complaint would be that Tom Hardy's John Fitzgerald character is nigh impossible to understand during certain dialogues. One scene in particular I picked up on about 20% of what he was actually saying.

Watch out. Bane's gotta gun...

The complaints stop there though and as a survival tale, much like Gravity was now that I think about it, The Revenant is a force to be reckoned with. Directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu, the film is a masterwork of organization on display. I was one of the few who didn't really dig Birdman all that much (perhaps a second viewing would shift my tune), but not even I could deny that the direction and filming of that film took a serious eye. Much like in that film, there are several tracking shots here, with a particularly violent one at the beginning being immensely impressive. Much of this ties in hand very closely with the cinematography which, and I don't think I'm blowing this out of proportion, might be some of the best you ever see in your life. Emmanuel Lubezki was able to capture some of the most brain-searingly memorable images I've yet to see and this all plays back into the "difficult shoot" part. The cast and crew would rehearse almost the entire day in order to get the shot they wanted to with the lighting they wanted to. That's right, The Revenant is shot with all natural lighting and I couldn't believe that something so simple resulted in an outcome so gorgeous. Over the course of the lengthy 9 month shoot, they had weather to contend with, but the shots of not just the film's actors, but of the wilderness, nature, and the surrounding environment are some of the most gorgeous you're ever likely to see in a theater. It may be only the first film in 2016, but I don't know if I can imagine another film coming and taking the Best Cinematography Rath Award from this crew next year. It's that good.

I imagine this will be a similar scene at the Oscar ceremony
if Leo doesn't win this year...

With so much focus on a single, or rather two, persons, The Revenant wouldn't be much without some amazing core performances. Inaudible accent aside, Tom Hardy is menacing as the film's "villain" here and is consistently intriguing to watch as you can tell there's clearly something not right with him. Leo may be getting all the Oscar talk, but Hardy shouldn't be ignored as a Supporting Actor in the slightest. DiCaprio himself has gone the extra mile in this film (something else I learned while doing my morning research) and it feels authentic. The actual number of lines he speaks may be few in count, but lines aren't directly equivalent to acting. He's acting as if he's a man that wants and needs to stay alive. In that regard, his plight and his struggle are so real it's almost a bit too much at times. It's not as if this is a "turn" for that actor as he's consistently been amazing, but it's Leo like you've never really seen Leo before. What's so mesmerizing about the film as well is this direct contrast that the humans have with the nature around them. Through the cinematography and still shots of forests, lakes, cliffs, etc...we are consistently reminded how absolutely stunning the world is. But then humans enter the frame and it's usually a gruesome affair of survival and bloodshed. I don't think it's necessarily a political statement but rather just an expert set up of contrast in the beauty of suffering. 

Before I wrap up I also have to give special mention to an aspect of the film that truly elevated it for me: (I'm sure you guessed it) the original score. Personally I would have liked to hear it more, but it's quite phenomenal and the main theme that echoes several times throughout is haunting, but eerily comforting too. It's long, drawn notes in a specific pattern, but there is a deliberate and distinct pause between them. It's absolutely gorgeous and the silence the lengthy pauses create made me subconsciously worry if the notes were coming back again, but then they'd be right there and I'd almost feel a sense of relief. It was such an odd, but effective trance. 

Hauntingly gorgeous

The Revenant is a certain type of film and think many may not enjoy it. In fact, upon exiting my theater the first reaction I heard was a housewife (of about 4'11" in stature -- but that's neither here nor there) state to her husband, "That was HORRible!". She's completely and utterly wrong of course, but I think the point I took from that is that it may be too much suffering for some. The cold, bitter wilderness may come across too realistically for many and a film with much violence, much bloodshed, and much raw pain might not be everyone's cup of tea. That's not the point of the film though, and I'd urge my readers to see it. Not just for the fact that it's an incredibly well made film, but because it's astonishing how hard a human's plight can be, but it still not shrink their will. 

Just remember to bring a coat. It's probably the coldest movie you'll see this year. 

CONS:

• Tom Hardy's accent makes it really hard to understand him at times
• The film is a lengthy 2hrs and 36mins. It needed about 15-20 minutes shaved from that runtime
• Related to the previous point...there are ways this could have been cut down and the points of survival would have still come across just fine
• Other than THE bear, the animal CGI was questionable

PROS:

• Fantastic direction by Inarritu. The tracking shots are impressive, but the organization of everything in each scene is outstanding
• This was a hard movie to make, I don't doubt that. So kudos to the cast and crew that stuck with it to create something special. It shows. 
• Some of the absolutely most gorgeous cinematography you're ever likely to witness. Not only is the technical cinematography near perfect, but the images that they're able to capture, specifically of the wilderness they're in are jaw dropping. The use of natural light may have been a challenge but it shows in the visuals
• Solid performances all around, but Tom Hardy and Leo both deserve recognition here. Hardy for displaying a character that's a little off and DiCaprio for displaying the will to survive with very few lines
• The plot, while simple, is perfect for a film like this
• A unique, but superb original score 
• An astonishing tale of survival and revenge that is special solely because of all the talented people involved both in front of and behind the camera

Rath's Review Score: 9.5/10