The Revenant (2015)

Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter

A frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team.

Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu did an incredible job bringing this partly factual story to life.

Leonardo DiCaprio stars as fur trapper Hugh Glass, on who’s life the film is based. His party of traders are attacked by a tribe known as the Ree. The reason for the attack is only revealed much later in the film: the Chief’s daughter, Powaqa, has been kidnapped by “two white men”, and he wants her back.

The group flees and – wandering into the forest – Glass is attacked and mauled by a grizzly bear. (This bear scene was one of the best animal attack scenes I have ever seen, and actually watched moments through parted fingers – and on the edge of my seat. It was amazingly realistic!) The handful of survivors attempted to carry Hugh over the mountains, but they progressed too slowly and it was decided to leave him behind, with only his Pawnee son Hawk, a young man named Jim, and Fitzgerald to look after him, having been offered a reward each.

Fitzgerald is portrayed by Tom Hardy, who does a fine job portraying this antagonist. Fitzgerald is an unsympathetic, selfish and cruel man who wants Glass dead. (You’re guaranteed to hate this character!) And so Glass’ ordeal intensifies.

‘The Revenant’ is a tale of determination, and survival against all odds. It is a very challenging and demanding role for DiCaprio, which he does incredibly well. For a film 2 1/2 hours long, I was never bored, and glued to the screen at all times. The cinematography is stunning, and this film looks fantastic on screen. The cinematography alone makes ‘The Revenant’ well worth seeing.

‘The Revenant’ is a long film, but it is entertaining and rewarding. Loved the finale.

At the box office ‘The Revenant’ earned $533 million on a $135 million budget. It received 279 award nominations, winning 91 including Oscars for Best Lead Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best Directing.

Would I watch it again? Yes.