LAUREN MUSCAT finds The Revenant tough-going but a worthwhile experience…
The Revenant (MA15+)
In a word: Gruelling
“A-list stars like DiCaprio and Hardy aside, the real drawcard for the film is visual spectacle. Filled with awe-inspiring extreme long-shots across the Canadian, American and Argentinian wilderness, cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki depicts a merciless frozen jungle with breathtaking results. In my opinion, it’s something that has to be seen on the big screen to get the full impact.
An exercise in the endurance of both the actors and the audience, The Revenant is a punishing watch with stunning results.
The Revenant, meaning one who has come back to life, follows the true story of Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio), a 19th century frontiersman in the US. Horrifically mauled by a grizzly bear, Glass crawls across the frozen Dakota landscape, fuelled by the idea of revenge against John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy), who killed Glass’ son and left Glass himself for dead after the attack.
Drawing on the idea of brutality, both human and natural, The Revenant is a bloody, visceral journey. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman) holds nothing back in this Western tale of endurance. In his relentless bid to survive, Glass tumbles over waterfalls and cliffs, cauterises his own wounds, sleeps inside a dead horse and eats a raw bison liver (which – fun fact – was real).
A now infamously difficult shoot, The Revenant was filmed entirely in natural light, only available for as little as 90 minutes per day and completely in sequence, taking 10 months to do so (a full five months longer than the original date set for wrap-up). In temperatures of less than 25 degrees below freezing, many crew opted to leave the set before the completion of the film because of the harsh conditions. Thankfully, it paid off.
A-list stars like DiCaprio and Hardy aside, the real drawcard for the film is visual spectacle. Filled with awe-inspiring extreme long-shots across the Canadian, American and Argentinian wilderness, cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki depicts a merciless frozen jungle with breathtaking results. It’s something that has to be seen on the big screen to get the full impact.
Finishing up at just over two-and-a-half hours long, The Revenant had the potential to become a slog (albeit a very beautiful slog), however the cinematography and DiCaprio’s gritty, disciplined, performance made the film powerful to the last second.
The Revenant is definitely not for all. If you cried during Bambi, probably steer clear. If you can’t handle your blood and gore, one to skip (and, if you ever want to go camping again, maybe give it a pass). But if none of that puts you off,The Revenant makes for compelling viewing.
Correction: This article originally said Alejandro González Iñárritu directed 12 Years A Slave. He did not.
