Steve Review The Revenant

According to Merriam-Webster, "Revenant" means: one that returns after death or a long absence. This is an extremely accurate title for this revenge film, although I'm not sure how many people are familiar enough with the word to make them rush to the cinema without adding, "You know... the one with Leonardo DiCaprio."  "Oh yeah!," said America. "That one looked good."  The Merriam-Webster website lists the word as being in the top 1% of searches (at the time of this writing). I'll submit that as exhibit A.

This film is a straight-up 1800's western. It's not exactly the "old west/cowboys and Indians" type because it doesn't take place in the South. The exact location isn't ever revealed, but there's snow and trees and mountains that suggest Colorado is as south as it gets. There are Indians, though, that weave an integral subplot through the story.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays Hugh Glass, an American fur trader specializing in scouting and tracking. While out on some kind of mission, Glass gets mauled by a grizzly bear and left for dead in one of the most realistic and heart-stopping human/animal scenes I've ever witnessed. Worse yet for Glass, his son is murdered. This adds up to a survival and revenge mission that solidifies DiCaprio as an A-list talent and likely the Best Actor of 2015.

The film does not hold your hand. There are many subtitles, and there isn't a lot of explaining of what is going on. You are thrown into the chaos in the first five minutes, and if you are busy paying attention to the absolutely stunning scenery of the snow and trees, you are likely to miss a character's face - which may be all you are given before you need to remember him later on. The direction of last year's winner Alejandro Inarritu (Birdman) is outstanding, and he likely in contention for a back-to-back Directing Oscar, which hasn't been done since Joseph Mankiewicz won his second in 1951 for All About Eve.  The filming was done on location and without the use of CGI sets, which alone made the filming process take over a year to complete.

I'm sure the film will get a nomination for Best Picture (with 10 slots, it's hard NOT to get in), and it will likely get nods in Directing, Adapted Screenplay, and Cinematography. Tom Hardy delivers a great performance and may earn a Supporting Actor nomination.  I'm not sure how many of those it has a shot at winning, though. Leo, however, should finally get his due. He's been delivering top-quality performances since the beginning, but he's suffered a loser's drought of Susan Lucci proportions.  I think that ends this year.  Leo is this film. From the bear scene on, Glass's character is driven to the brink of insanity, and his survival story will stick with you and lead you to wonder how anyone (even the actor playing the role) could endure this torture.

-Steve
12.28.2015