Review of The Revenant (2015) by Odjento — 04 Feb 2016

The Revenant is an incredible cinematic journey that really encapsulates you in the insolation and savagery of wilderness, and promotes an endearing message that does not preach itself too heavily.

Innuritu has created a vastly different film from his last (Birdman) that really shows his range, in a change from a dialogue heavy to a physical dialogue film in which we feel DiCaprio’s feelings and suffering not through words but through his physicality in the project. Half the film probably isn’t even in English, delving between native Indian and French to really give this feeling of the unknown to the audience. It even shows how the “developed” cultures are more savage than the “underdeveloped” ones with rape and traitors being exposed in their midst.

The demonic and biblical imagery dotted throughout the film exposing Fitzgerald’s twisted and distorted take on a sacred religion is a nicely woven in theme along with the Native Indian respect one - which can in turn be woven in and out of each other.

DiCaprio does a great job in the physical acting side and we really do get to see a man suffer on screen. It is heart-breaking yet incredible to watch. Hardy on the other hand gets the more dialogue driven acting and does it incredibly well. Everyone has been going on about how great DiCaprio is in this film but really Tom Hardy plays his part just as well if not better. You really come to loathe the man.

The direction and cinematography of the film is incredible. The tracking shots really immerse you in the gritty and dirty scenes and makes the battles and action sequences feel alive and not just adapted from a piece of paper. It makes them feel like they were actually captured as they happened. The scene is also the most visceral and scary bear attack scenes I have ever seen, it was impeccably paced and gut-wretchingly brutal. I winced at a few parts of it.

Incredible film making, but pacing throughout can wither at times due to lack of dialogue. A beautiful piece of art, with amazing cinematography and poignant messages.

8.