Title: The Revenant
Release Date: 8/1/2016
Rating: 5/5
Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Starring: Leonardo Di Caprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter

The highly anticipated movie The Revenant, released on January 8th, was well worth the wait.
Leonardo Di Caprio stars in the film, which is based loosely on the life of famous explorer Hugh Glass, and takes some inspiration from Michael Punke's 2002 novel of the same name.

It is a movie about survival and vengeance, and it’s not for the faint-hearted.

The film is set in 1823, and revolves around Hugh Glass (Di Caprio), who is left for dead by his companions after suffering horrendous injuries during savage mauling by a grizzly bear. Left alone in the wilderness, Glass survived, and swore revenge on the men who betrayed him. He set out to find them with vengeance on his mind.

It may sound a familiar storyline, but expert acting and directing propels The Revenant far above being just another man-versus-nature ordeal.

The film boasts a strong supporting cast of Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson and Will Poulter, and features Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Birdman) in the director's seat.
Oscar-winning Iñárritu's attention to detail and commitment to his principles have demonstrated the director's huge talent. The challenging decision to film in natural light has paid dividends. The Revenant is filled with starkly beautiful and ethereal shots. It feels gritty, real and uncompromising.

Cinematographer Emmanuel "Chivo" Lubezki (The Tree of Life, Birdman, Gravity) deserves immense credit. The visceral, animalistic elements are balanced perfectly with breath-taking landscapes, treetops, rivers, and endless skies.

The events take place in the American wilderness, and there are regular clashes between the Native American tribes and the American and French fur-trappers and explorers.

Early on, the fur-trapping company is attacked by the enraged Arikara Indians, who are searching for the chief's kidnapped daughter, Powaqa. Panoramic shots bring the devastating attack to life, as arrows and bullets bury themselves in flesh.
The fur-trappers suffer many casualties, and a small number escape down the river on a boat.  Captain Henry (Gleeson) seeks Glass's advice, and the experienced explorer suggests abandoning the boat and trekking to the nearest fort on foot.

Tom Hardy produces another stellar performance as ruthless John Fitzgerald, a fellow fur-trapper, who is almost as much of a survivor as Glass himself. Fitzgerald antagonizes Glass from the outset, and constantly questions Captain Henry’s decisions.

There is a tense moment between Fitzgerald and Glass after the former insults Glass' half-Pawnee son Hawk. Fragmented flashbacks reveal that Glass' Pawnee wife was killed when American soldiers raided the tribe's village. Glass still has hallucinations of his wife.
The much talked about bear scene was worth the wait. After stumbling upon two bear cubs in the woods, Glass is attacked savagely by their mother. The attack is feral, graphic and powerful. Glass suffers severe wounds, but plays dead, and the mother eventually moves away.

However, a second attack is even more graphic and animalistic. The bear eventually collapses on top of Glass, after being shot and then stabbed repeatedly. When Glass' companions find him, his wounds are horrific, and it seems certain that he will die.
John Bridger (Poulter) and Fitzgerald vow to stay behind (for extra pay) with Hawk until Glass dies, after attempts to carry him on a stretcher fail.

However, the selfish and malevolent Fitzgerald attempts to suffocate a helpless Glass when they are alone together. He kills Hawk after the boy interrupts him, and hides the body. Glass is forced to watch, unable to move or speak.
Fitzgerald then lies to Bridger and convinces him to abandon Glass, and the duo leave the wounded man half buried in a hole.

Against all odds, Glass survives and proves his resilience. He is forced to eat raw bison liver, cauterise his own wound, sleep in a horse carcass, and flee from Indian tribes during his quest for vengeance.

Much of Di Caprio’s screen time involves agonized expressions, pained grunts, and little dialogue. But make no mistake, it is a masterful performance from the finest actor of our generation. Di Caprio conveys both the inner and outer fortitude and resilience of his character wonderfully, and we experience each new challenge and agony with him.

The tense final showdown between Glass and Fitzgerald is well worth the wait, as was the film itself.

It is an unflinching look at the power of nature, and of man, and the harshness and cruelty of each.

There have been many calls for Di Caprio to finally be awarded an Oscar, and on this performance, it would surely be deserved.
I you watch one film in 2016, make sure it's The Revenant.