Review of The Revenant (2015) by R D — 19 Feb 2018

While exploring the uncharted wilderness in 1823, frontiersman Hugh Glass sustains life-threatening injuries from a brutal bear attack. While on a hunt one of the members in his hunting group kills his young son and leaves Hugh Glass for dead. He must use his survival skills to find a way back to civilization. Fueled by vengeance he sets out a path to his childs murderer to get revenge.

The film took 15 years to be made. The development of the film began in August 2001 with producer Akiva Goldsman acquiring the rights to Michael Punke's then unpublished manuscript. Park Chan-wook picked up the production with Samuel L Jackson in mind to star but shortly after Park left the project. From then the development of this film was hauled until 2010. Then in 2010 it was picked up again but only for it to be put on hold until 2012. After Alejandro G. Inarritus film birdman was released in 2013 he begin the schedule the production on the Revenant. Filming began in 2014.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays the real life explorer Hugh Glass. Although for the majority of this film DiCaprio is grunting with little dialogue he is still putting on a great performance. The role is heavily physical role more one of the main themes in this film was the notion to carry on fighting so long as you can breath. Although Glass if fighting, he isn't fighting for survival he is fighting to get revenge for those who left him for dead and murdered his son. The film is about a man who has nothing pushing him forward through the wilderness to become a dangerous man.

Tom Hardy plays the evil character of John fitzgerald the one who Hugh seeks vengeance on. Tom plays a convincing role as the bad guy but a lot of it was typical and cliche bad guy. Will Poulter as Jim Bridger was a friend to Hugh Glass but he was caught in the situation of being forced into joining Fitzgerald after the betrayal. It's interesting to watch his state of mind though the film.

The story of The Revenant is a simple one. He is being on a graphic path of vengeance, but his epic journey in the film is what makes it so good. From a 156 minute film. The Revenant doesn't feel long, from the way we see him act out crazy wilderness survival techniques and how he never gives up no matter how much pain he is in makes a very entertaining gripping film. With great performances, cinematography and story The Revenant is a great film. I would highly recommend it to anyone.