Tipped for a long overdue Oscar, could this be DiCaprio’s crowning glory?
Set in the wild, white, unforgiving Native American territories of the American frontier, Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) is tasked with leading a fur trapping team safely home. Accompanied by his half-native son Hawk, the tensions run high from the brutal beginnings as the team is ambushed by a group of Arikara. Making slow progress and with mutinies along the way, the Captain (Domhnall Gleeson) puts his trust in Glass and his son – a fact that sits ill with John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) who makes trouble at every turn. Suffering a savage misfortune exacerbated by Fitzgerald, Glass is left only a blink away from death. Armed only with his knowledge of the land and slow burning injustice to keep him warm, Glass claws back enough life to do right by his family.
Shot with unsurpassable beauty from the first click of the camera, director Alejandro González Iñárritu captivates without words or deeds. As much a character, if not the greatest character in the film is nature itself. With the ultimate power over life, nature both challenges Glass with death at every turn as well as being his saviour. It can be argued that the root of all his pain also gave him the physical tools for his survival. This attention to detail and intricate story telling should be an example to all film makers, indeed there have been plenty of award winning films capturing similar tales of survival with a fragment of the drama, cast and budget seen in The Revenant.
While DiCaprio played a cornerstone of brutal endurance and talent, it was fantastic to see a supporting cast of such calibre. Domhnall Gleeson plays his part with such integrity it is a credit to the casting director and Gleeson himself; despite playing a minor role he is noteworthy and heartfelt. Tom Hardy plays a believable villain with a sense of reality and no cartoonish archetypes. Even the likeable but gullible Jim Bridger, played by Will Poulter, creates such an affinity with the camera you can’t help but find yourself emotionally invested in him. Together these characters keep you as close to their thoughts and actions as if it was life unfolding before you.
Another notable part of the film is the arresting and quietly confident soundtrack. There is no pageantry but it suits the proceedings in such a manner as only to support rather than to distract, leaving the film with its subtle but significant final breaths. This was no Hollywood high drama but a lovingly crafted comment on life and the importance and beauty of nature, alongside the perfect balance of a brutal and engaging story to garnish the gentler undertones.
Perhaps, like an underachieving child at school, DiCaprio has been denied an Oscar under the pretence of “can do better”. I would like to think so, because he certainly has! From runner to director, I think this is a once in a lifetime achievement and should be received and respected as such.
Author: Joe, Bath store
