"The Revenant" Review - Cruel and Unusual Yet Thrilling Punishment

I am still absorbing what I just saw in “The Revenant”. Man is that movie good. Let’s get the pros and cons out of the way first. This is one of my more lengthier reviews, but I hope you bare with me.Pros, the cast is phenomenal. Tom Hardy especially kills it and it’s so awesome to see him go from Mad Max to mad hunter. The scenery is just gorgeous along with it to add to the tense feel of this whole movie. The con is that it is way too long. They could’ve cut some stuff out or shorten it up on a lot of scenes, because it really didn’t need to be 2 and a half hours long. Now, what that aside, besides Alejandro’s genius directing mind, there are two singular reasons why this movie is a must see.

1. Emmanuel Lubezki. He is the cinematographer behind Gravity, Birdman, and this movie. He has easily become of the best cinematographers of our generation, if not one of the best of all time. The work that is put into each shot to add emotion and beauty from all angles is astonishing. Adding to the fact this movie was filmed in all natural light, it makes his camerawork even better. He will probably score another Oscar, and I will be very okay with that.

2. Leonardo Di Caprio. His acting is 100% golden. It’s raw like the fish he eats, grizzly as the bear he fights, and just downright amazing. Easily his best movie to date. One of the very last shots of the film, is Leonardo looking directly into the camera. And in that moment, he is looking to the Academy and saying, “Can I have my f***ing Oscar now?” And I seriously hope he does. Unlike other years when there has simply been people better than him, he is the absolute best out of all actors to stand out. If he doesn’t score an Oscar now, honestly, I don’t think he ever will.

This film is undeniably frightening and gory, but an all out well directed revenge story. The emotion and passion put into every scene blew my mind. Be prepared for something masterful and visionary when you see it.

One Nebs Up!