Monday 1 February 2016

The Revenant

The True Story Of One Mans Never Ending Quest For An Oscar


REVENANT - One who has returned, as if from the dead.

Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Release Date: 2015
Rating: 15
Running Time: 150 mins
Genre: Action/Drama/Western
Starring: Leonardo Dicaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter

'I'm not afraid of dying, I've done it already'

So Oscar season is finally upon us once again, and this year its an interesting bag, and so many we thought might be up for nominations of Best Picture ended up receiving hardly any nominations at all. Still none the less, there's strong competition for the clencher, it is looking like the Mexican director is in the drivers seat for winning, with his picture receiving 12 Oscar nominations. There's no doubt Inarritu is a truly talented filmmaker, unique with vision and execution of his films, ever since his controversial debut film Amores Perros, the first installment in his 'Trilogy of Death' won The Critic's Week award at the Cannes Film Festival and the Bafta Award for Best film not in the English Language back in 2001. Since then Inarritu has claimed multiple awards including, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Picture at the 2015 Oscars for Birdman proving what a capable filmmaker the man is, and its fair to say, The Revenant is no different. The survival story is favorite to follow in suit just one year on, really proving he is a truly exceptional director from the 21st century, and may shine a light on more of his indie films in the past. With The Revenant already snatching up other awards along the way, it's looking like Inarritu won't be the only one winning an Oscar as all film fans around the world wait and wonder if the long awaited Dicaprio Oscar might finally be unveiled in this early 19th century Western survival epic.

Fighting for survival after his group of Trappers are fooled into believing he's died from a vicious bear attack, Hugh Glass (Dicaprio) ventures on a mission driven by revenge, to get back to his comrades who abandoned him and take revenge on the man who left him for dead and murdered his son. In many ways, its a revenge film, the one thing that gives Glass something to live for, in other ways its a survival story about not giving up, even on the brink of death, but most of all I find The Revenant to be a truly visually stunning spectacle of movie making that surpasses its inspiring story. There's no doubt Inarritu is a truly captivating film maker, the cinematography in this film is astonishing. It's a wonder how they were able to create such complex long takes and provide seamless editing to make sure the camera never steers from the action, making it thoroughly authentic. Much like Birdman, the film features a continuous string of long takes, and tied in with the incredible scenery you look and watch and almost forget about the story. Leo is really pushed to the test in this film physically and mentally, whether it's going fifteen rounds with a bear (all in one take) or drifting helplessly down rough waters and sleeping inside dead animals to survive the cold northern nights, it makes you wonder if despite all this, he still made the right call not to call in at 'Minnie's Haberdashery', which I imagine was facing its fair share of bloodshed around the same time as Leo's battle to get home.

Despite both Dicaprio and Hardy doing what seems to be there best to 'out-mumble' each other, but at the same time win us over as exceptional actors we know them to be, its fair to agree the films actors are completely believable and extremely talented. Tom Hardy's had an incredible career so far, and now he might also be a potential winner going up against Rocky Balboa for best Supporting Actor. From his role of Bane in Nolan's The Dark Knight, to Welsh Construction foreman whose life falls apart driving home on the M1 in Locke, to taking on the role both Kray Twins in Legend, Hardy's showing his immense diversity being showing how he can play some of  the best likable villains in cinema, and some of the most interesting anti-heroes, the complex British actor is on the up and up. The supporting roles from rising stars Domhnall Gleeson (Who's been voted Total Film's Man of The Year) and Will Poulter showing he's not just a comedy clown, are both equally inspiring in their roles portraying decent men in such a savage time. The film does raise many questions about the morality of the U.S fighting the indigenous people who use to own the land they are slowly loosing. In many ways, there are both savages in everyone, and civilisation and culture as well, and this film is showing how different points of view can inspire people's beliefs and opinions about other cultures.

The Revenant stands a strong chance at claiming a fair amount of Oscars at this years ceremony. However, it may not be able to do what Peter Jackson did twelve years earlier taking home eleven Oscars, but it certainly won't go empty handed. With the fight for best picture being anyone's to claim, I think what we're all wondering is can Leo finally give his long awaited speech and take home the golden statue?

All in all, The Revenant is an incredible story, adapted into an incredible film, but maybe not for the same reasons. At the heart of the film its a touching account of Hugh Glass' amazing story, but feels maybe a bit too Oscar-hungry and stands out for other reasons than the plot. A great achievment in cinematics, but looses the narrative in the mix of everything going on.

9/10

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