THE REVENANT : Tuesday 26th January 2016.

I finally got around to see the much talked about 'THE REVENANT' earlier this week, and was not disappointed given the attention that this film has so far garnered. Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Produced and Written for the screen by him too and based loosely on the book of the same name by Michael Punke, this is an epic early Western film the like of which we have not seen before. Filmed in some of the wildest country known to man across Canada, the USA and Argentina with a budget that started off at US$60M that rose to US$95M and ended at US$135M and certainly not without its location, weather, crew and filming challenges. But for all of that Inarritu's has delivered a master stroke of film making using inhospitable but beautiful locations, expertly shot by lensman Emmanuel Lubezki using mostly only natural light, and delivering two outstanding performances from the lead actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy especially. Released on 25th December in time to qualify for the upcoming Academy Awards, the film has so far grossed US$225M and has secured twelve Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Lead Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Directing, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Production, Costume, Make-Up & Hair, Sound Mixing and Editing and Visual Effects. Similarly it is up for eight BAFTA Awards and it walked away with three Golden Globe wins for Best Picture, Best Direction and Best Actor.

And so to the story. Set in the early 1820's and based on the experiences of expert fur trapper and frontiersman Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) who in the harsh lands of Montana and South Dakota lead a group of men to secure prized animal pelts for sale at a high price. Hunting in the harshest of lands Glass and his men, that include John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy); Andrew Henry (Domhnall Gleeson) as Captain of the hunting party; Jim Bridger (Will Poulter) as a younger trapper; and Hawk (Forrest Goodluck) as Glass' young adult half-Indian son; must battle the toughest terrain, not to be trusted French soldiers, not to be trusted work colleagues, blood thirsty native Indians, ever changing weather conditions, and fierce animals that can either hunt or be hunted. Definitely not for the faint hearted, and Inarritu and Lubezki capture this beautiful, bleak and foreboding landscape and all its dangers with a deft touch that is richly rewarding, technically brilliant and totally consuming.

Early on when the hunting party are unexpectedly and savagely attacked by Arikara Indians, the trappers flee by boat but not before many deaths, and the loss of many pelts. With what's left they abandon the boat downstream to hide the remaining valuable pelts for fear of further attacks, and with less to carry over the mountains on foot their journey back to Fort Kiowa will be easier and faster. With only ten men left now out of an original group of 40+, the men make camp for the night. Waking early the next morning Glass wanders off into the woods alone and is mauled by a fully grown grizzly bear protecting its cubs. Not once, but twice, in a scene that is so raw and savage that it will have you on the edge of you seat as you contort and grimace as every bone crunching, flesh shredding, blood letting frame that leaves Glass alive . . . but only just!

Unable to speak, stand, and barely move with his life seemingly ebbing away he is recovered by the remaining group who commit to get Glass back to the fort and so rig up a makeshift stretcher. Fitzgerald though believes that Glass is so close to death that they should end his pain & suffering there, but he is over ruled by the others and Henry who offers up a cash reward for those that stay behind until Glass perishes and then bury him properly. With cash on offer Fitzgerald and Bridger offer to stay behind, accompanied by Glass' dutiful son, Hawk.

Ultimately what unfolds is that Fitzgerald kills Hawk whilst Bridger is out of sight, and this is witnessed by Glass who is powerless to do anything about it. Believing that Glass is near death, Fitzgerald convinces Bridger that Hawk has succumbed to an Indian attack and that they should leave Glass behind and return to the Fort, tell Henry they did the right thing by Glass and claim their cash reward. And so they do, turning their back on Glass who is dragged into a shallow ditch despite his life threatening injuries and covered with damp soil . . . to die!

The film plays out with Fitzgerald and Bridger making their way on foot across the harsh Winter terrain back to Fort Kiowa, as Glass hauls himself out of his shallow grave and drags himself to safety for fear of further Indian attacks. As time progresses Glass does recover slowly but surely, and with a dogged determination to exact out his revenge on Fitzgerald. Hungry, thirsty, nursing open wounds and unable to walk Winter is closing in as he reaches a river, and to escape Indians on his trail he floats down the rapids to safety for the time being. He encounters danger and hostile conditions almost every step of the way but as the weeks pass his health begins to improve, he can stand on two feet, but his wounds are still gaping. He crosses paths with a friendly Pawnee Indian who shares a recently killed bison with him and they travel together with the Pawnee helping nurse Glass back to health as best as he can and provide shelter from the worsening Winter weather.

Glass must endure further hardships and set backs at the hands of French soldiers, marauding Arikara Indians again, and freezing temperatures as he continues his journey south. By now Fitzgerald and Bridger have arrived at Fort Kiowa, spin their story to Henry and take their cash reward. As more weeks pass Glass continues south on foot having lost his horse in a spectacular cliff fall that leaves the horse dead, but still with purpose for Glass who needs to find shelter and warmth from the bitter cold and snow storm closing in.

In time Glass makes it on foot to the Fort and so the truth will out . . . by which time Fitzgerald has made off with his money and that held in the Fort's strong box, and now believed to be heading to Texas to enlist. Glass and Henry give chase and it all comes to an end in a bitter hand to hand fight down beside a snow covered riverbank.

DiCaprio immerses himself in the role and plays his character with such conviction that if  he doesn't win the Best Actor Oscar at the upcoming Awards then he should give up his chosen career for something less challenging and demanding. You can tell that he put his heart and soul into the Hugh Glass character, and what he doesn't say on screen but what he portrays through his actions, mannerisms, pain, fear and emotion speak volumes louder. Tom Hardy is also thoroughly believable as the villain in the piece and is deserving too of his Supporting Actor nomination. All credit though must go to Alejando Gonzalez Inarritu for his vision for this story, the deeply committed performances he pulled out of his cast, the richness of the cinematography, and the rugged landscapes he used as the backdrop to this film despite the challenges endured by all, and the escalating budget.

Intense, uncompromising, raw, and beautiful, this is one of the best films of the year without doubt. Do yourself a favour and see it on the big screen and immerse yourself for 150 minutes in an accomplished piece of filmmaking on almost every level. For me the writing is already on the wall at the Academy Awards!

 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-