The Revenant

8

ThatGoonerMar 27, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I've checked this for spoilers but it's predominantly a vague - non-spoiler - review, so if you haven't seen this and you only care to watch it with a certain half-heartedness, then this is the one for you. I digress...

Oh, if only you could give more specific ratings because this would certainly be heading for an 8.5 from me if this was the case.

After a start that left me somewhat confused as to how the rest of the film may continue and maintain a certain quality, then came the bear. The big killer who rather ironically struck life into what would've been a long two and a half hours. Having witnessed, and continued to witness, the stunning cinematography pulled off throughout in order to add a real open effect to the film, there began a revenge story between the two on-form actors; Hardy and DiCaprio. Everything about this revenge plot had me gripped. The way you knew there was an air of tension between the two main characters, and the fact that you knew Fitzgerald had it in for Glass foreshadowed the state he ended up leaving him in, and it really did help this story flow and with some luck along the way, the inevitable ending seemed oh so dramatic. From the dummy dead body to knife fight on the icy floors besides the forest, it had me tense all the way through. DiCaprio's star-studded performance now seems to be well-worthy of the Oscar for Best Actor as the grit and determination of the character just kept on going and going, and I'm glad he did. I'm new to doing these reviews so I'm unsure of whether this was written 'acceptably' but nevertheless hope you enjoyed this and I *thoroughly* recommend you watch this film.… Expand

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8

c_avdoMar 28, 2016

Movie earned all rewards except for best actor. Leo should receive it earlier, but however. The Revenent is amazing. Fantastic directing, picture, Tom Hardy, every scene is done perfectly, so big respect for one of the best directors today,Movie earned all rewards except for best actor. Leo should receive it earlier, but however. The Revenent is amazing. Fantastic directing, picture, Tom Hardy, every scene is done perfectly, so big respect for one of the best directors today, Inarritu. He has done a big job with this, and it was a very hard task, just like with Birdman. Great soundtrack and everything that makes you feel like you are in the forest with Leo, does that. One of the best movies in 2016., and one of the best with such a little dialog I watched.

ps. scene with the bear didn't actually impress me that much as others. But respect on braveness.… Expand

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8

peterbelbitaApr 8, 2016

"Revenge is a dish best served cold" is the most fitting adage here, seeing as how DiCaprio spends nearly the entire film in freezing conditions, fueled only by his fiery rage and insatiable desire for vengeance. The scenery is amazing; the"Revenge is a dish best served cold" is the most fitting adage here, seeing as how DiCaprio spends nearly the entire film in freezing conditions, fueled only by his fiery rage and insatiable desire for vengeance. The scenery is amazing; the graphics of the bear mauling impeccable; the intermittent gnashing of teeth (DiCaprio's) punctuate scenes like the icy blast of winter's first freeze, cutting the viewer to the core. No doubt, his performance was impressive, and he committed to the role with an intensity that skewers the viewer's soul, much as the computer-generated bear did to DiCaprio's nearly frozen limbs. The story itself misses the mark historically, as the real Hugh Glass did not have a son; however, the overlying, timeless theme of righting someone's wrong rings as true in the 1820's as it does today. It is that drive to make someone accountable for his actions that keeps the viewer glued to the screen from start to finish. One can't help but wonder what he or she would do in a similar situation, and how he or she at one time has also felt like Hugh Glass, wishing to make someone pay for another person's wrongdoing. In addition to DiCaprio's performance, Tom Hardy proved a force to be reckoned with, chewing each scene as hard as he did the wad of tobacco he slid carefully between his teeth and cheek intermittently. It was his performance that was perhaps the most overlooked, and the final reckoning between Hardy and DiCaprio was a cinematic masterpiece.… Expand

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8

thatcriticmahaApr 20, 2016

Alejandro González Iñárritu takes you on a journey through a man`s struggles in 1823 America. Leonardo DiCaprio in what could be hist best role yet completely amazes you in every scene he is in. The Revenant is easily one of the deepest andAlejandro González Iñárritu takes you on a journey through a man`s struggles in 1823 America. Leonardo DiCaprio in what could be hist best role yet completely amazes you in every scene he is in. The Revenant is easily one of the deepest and most intriguing films of this decade. It is a film that excels at everything it does, from the breathtaking scenery to the grueling stunts. Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy`s performance are so mesmerizing that you forget your watching a film, and instead a Biopic. The clear determination from both actors to excel at their roles is made very evident in every scene they are in. The tone of the film is dark and gritty, perfectly describing the times with which those men lived in. The cinematography in this film is on a completely different level. The choice to use natural lighting instead of artificial is a gamble that pays of massively. Overall this is a fantastic film that deserves all of the countless awards that are inevitably going to come its way.… Expand

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8

JonathonBMay 22, 2016

"The Revenant” is a gorgeous, brooding take on Hugh Glass’s tale of survival in the American hinterlands. The film envelopes us in the story, making us feel like we are there with the characters. Though, it does drift too much during the"The Revenant” is a gorgeous, brooding take on Hugh Glass’s tale of survival in the American hinterlands. The film envelopes us in the story, making us feel like we are there with the characters. Though, it does drift too much during the second half. Nevertheless, it's still an intense, brutal, and, at times, moving film experience. And Leonardo DiCaprio is in top-form, giving the most committed, physically demanding performance of his career.… Expand

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8

2016Jul 27, 2016

A complete example of a movie of thriller. Done well from his beginning and end, The been reborn one is of these movies that you cannot stop seeing...

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8

JyroJyroJul 29, 2017

This is an incredibly impressive film at times, with the cinematography being on par with just about anything you will ever see. Every single scene was captured completely with natural light, creating a beautiful setting that is almost asThis is an incredibly impressive film at times, with the cinematography being on par with just about anything you will ever see. Every single scene was captured completely with natural light, creating a beautiful setting that is almost as haunting as the acting of a vengeful Leonardo DiCaprio & and a menacing Tom Hardy. Sadly, the film loses a little of its intensity due to it's extreme length and tree obsession. Still, this is an amazingly epic & brutal film, and one that finally rewarded DiCaprio with his long-awaited Academy Award.… Expand

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8

DomgwyDec 20, 2017

Leonardo DiCaprio is the greatest actor of his generation. There….now that we’ve got that out of the way…

The Revenant is the based on Michael Punke’s fictionalised novel telling the story of 19th century bear trapper Hugh Glass. After aLeonardo DiCaprio is the greatest actor of his generation. There….now that we’ve got that out of the way…

The Revenant is the based on Michael Punke’s fictionalised novel telling the story of 19th century bear trapper Hugh Glass. After a brutal bear attack Glass is left for dead in the wilds of South Dakota with the harsh elements, murderous native Americans and, worst of all, the French to deal with.

Glass is determined to track down the man who betrayed him — John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) who is not only responsible for leaving him behind, but also killed Glass’s son while the hunter was powerless to stop him.

From the outset director Alejandro González Iñárritu delivers an incredible sequence featuring a full scale attack on Glass’ group by native Americans. The majority of this scene appears to be one long take, a favourite technique of the directors’ used throughout his previous oscar winning credit Birdman. This battle takes things to another level however. The number of elements on screen at any time, from charging horses, to firing rifles, to burning trees, leaves you wondering just how the sequence was accomplished.

Beyond the performances it is the cinematography of The Revenant that is it’s greatest achievement. Director of photography Emmanuel Lubezki has previously worked on the award wining Gravity as well as 2007’s Children of Men which also featured a breathtaking ‘single shot’ battle sequence. To my mind The Revenant must be his greatest work to date. Almost every frame of the film could be printed on canvas and hung in a gallery. The visuals are all the more impressive when you consider that Iñárritu largely insisted on using only natural light when filming, meaning Lubezki often had to rely on something as inconsistent as the weather to light the desired shots.

While The Revenant is often pitched as a survival story or a revenge story, to me it is more of an exploration of men as animals. Between Glass’s animalistic drive for retribution, the native Americans and their on-going quest to find an abducted member of their tribe and the animals themselves, everyone has largely the same goal — to protect their young. The bear mauling that acts as the inciting incident for the drama is also driven by the bear protecting her cubs when Glass comes across them while scouting.

Speaking of the bear — the mauling scene is another breathtaking piece of filmmaking that has to be seen to be believed. Quite how it was put together I still can’t figure out. Again using ‘one long take’ technique, the attack is relentless, desperate, and brutal. I’ve heard the expression ‘mauled by a bear’ before but I’ve never really knew what that meant, until now.

While its safe to say the plot of The Revenant is fairly thin, it is DiCaprio and Hardy that remain the driving force of the narrative. Isolated for the majority of the run time Dicaprio has very few lines and relies on physicality and facial expressions alone to convey Glass’ suffering. It’s hard to imagine anyone else that could bring the humanity and desperation to the part that DiCaprio does. The debate about the actor winning an Oscar is almost redundant at this point. He should have won years ago. If this doesn’t do it however, I don’t know what will.

Hardy’s job in the film is more straight forward but is no less compelling. Fitzgelard is a bitter, selfish and unforgiving man who bullies and intimidates his way through the situation for his own personal gain. Hardy’s character represents the other side of man’s animal nature, advocating the philosophies of survival of the fittest and every man for himself.

With two complex characters played by two actors at the top of their game, the film builds to a tense and deeply personal confrontation which I will not in any way spoil here.

The supporting cast should not be overlooked however. Fresh off Star Wars Domhnall Gleeson continues to prove himself as a great character actor as the conflicted Captain Henry while Will Poulter shows he can hold his own with Hardy in some pretty intense scenes.

For me The Revenant is the perfect cocktail of source martial, directorial style and performance. In equal parts harrowing and beautiful it may not be a film to be casually re-watched, but if you think of yourself as a film fan in anyway it is certainly deserving of your time.… Expand

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8

Jaredc324May 17, 2019

Revenant is another Innarritu innovation and experiment. Driven and captured with incomparable, enthralling cinematography of some of the most graphic and invigorating sequences in recent memory. And carried by the painfully-vengefulRevenant is another Innarritu innovation and experiment. Driven and captured with incomparable, enthralling cinematography of some of the most graphic and invigorating sequences in recent memory. And carried by the painfully-vengeful performance by Leo Dicaprio, who may not be at his best (in my opinion), but is certainly as his most vulnerable in this pic. But Tom Hardy in my opinion, was equal to Leo in his crazed lunacy and recklessness. Altogether forms a moviegoing experience that is enfused with the best of what cinema has to offer. However Revenant has a disease that many, many "trying to be great" films suffer from. And that is being overly long and overly dense to justify its subject matter. Some films need to be stretched out, but Revenant felt like it was reaching beyond its means. You actually lost a lot of what drove the movie from the onset and became hazed by DiCaprio's wander in the bush. Most of it is very beautiful, but until its terrific and overwhelmingly satisfying end, rests far too many moments of that had no reason being in the final cut. That being said, there's so much goodness juiced into this film, it's difficult to walk away and not say you were unbelievable enamored and impressed.… Expand

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8

amheretojudgeJan 16, 2018

you breathe.. keep breathing..

The Revenant At certain points in the movie, the director decided not to keep any dialogues and ironically those scene said a lot than any dialogue ever could. As simple as the movie goes there are someyou breathe.. keep breathing..

The Revenant

At certain points in the movie, the director decided not to keep any dialogues and ironically those scene said a lot than any dialogue ever could. As simple as the movie goes there are some moments that will stay with you till the end. The key points of it is definitely acting but also the execution which is equally stunning and scary.… Expand

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8

StavNeuseJul 24, 2018

The Revenant is possibly the most visually stunning cinematic movie I have ever watched. Leonardo Dicaprio was at his best, no doubt. The directing, writing and every single character were on-point, everything eventually tied itself in for anThe Revenant is possibly the most visually stunning cinematic movie I have ever watched. Leonardo Dicaprio was at his best, no doubt. The directing, writing and every single character were on-point, everything eventually tied itself in for an ending to die for.… Expand

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8

ErikTheCriticOct 14, 2018

A harrowing picture that showcases the talent from some very renowned actors, whilst providing some breathtaking cinematography and visuals.

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8

Not_AlfacinhaSep 25, 2019

Deixei-me levar pelos incríveis planos, pela luz pela sombra, que magnificas paisagens fui brindado com este filme. Excelente interpretação de Di Caprio

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8

mulisharobboJan 8, 2020

Very entertaining film. Leo and all supporting actors are great. Storyline is great and meaningful. It's not soft, good dose of core and grittyness.

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8

KYLATJul 3, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Remember, this is how you make a good revenge story without the actual "revange"… Expand

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8

AJ_13Sep 20, 2021

A raw and brutal film, that tells a simple yet really powerful story. Both DiCaprio and Hardy are award-deserving, as are cinematography, direction and score.

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7

JacobFeb 27, 2016

While I appreciate all the effort that went into the visual aspect of the film Its hard to enjoy it. The characters are shallow, the wandering segment goes on too long, and the glorious tracking shots are absent. This film will no doubt winWhile I appreciate all the effort that went into the visual aspect of the film Its hard to enjoy it. The characters are shallow, the wandering segment goes on too long, and the glorious tracking shots are absent. This film will no doubt win an Oscar for its visuals and directing but unfortunately I won’t remember it much after that. Just give Leo his Oscar already so we can stop with films like this.… Expand

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7

JamesLJan 12, 2016

Despite the great cinematography, this is simply a overdrawn survival and revenge story. It is too long on the bleakness and the repeated survival of the main character that the attempts to throw in some spirituality and moral foundation fallDespite the great cinematography, this is simply a overdrawn survival and revenge story. It is too long on the bleakness and the repeated survival of the main character that the attempts to throw in some spirituality and moral foundation fall flat. I enjoyed his other films much more as I frankly got bored with the story and the inevitable ending.… Expand

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

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7

podunk411Feb 6, 2016

The shots and direction are amazing, the plot is thin, DiCaprio's performance is great, many of the trials Glass goes through seem a little contrived to one-up the last thing he survived, but overall I still liked The Revenant. Worth seeingThe shots and direction are amazing, the plot is thin, DiCaprio's performance is great, many of the trials Glass goes through seem a little contrived to one-up the last thing he survived, but overall I still liked The Revenant. Worth seeing in the theater for sure.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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7

marco34laDec 27, 2015

This movie decent, not epic or excellent. DiCaprio is great, but the film is more about surving nature than any real story or plot. It's about 2hrs and 30 mins long -- probably could have been better at 2hrs. Nontheless, it was beautifullyThis movie decent, not epic or excellent. DiCaprio is great, but the film is more about surving nature than any real story or plot. It's about 2hrs and 30 mins long -- probably could have been better at 2hrs. Nontheless, it was beautifully shot and had some great moments. Not enough for me to give it higher than a 7.… Expand

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7

netflicJan 11, 2016

From a renowned director Alejandro Iñárritu comes this story of survival and vengeance. Partially based on real events, this movie focuses on the 19th century traveler Hugh Glass (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) who was left for dead by his teamFrom a renowned director Alejandro Iñárritu comes this story of survival and vengeance. Partially based on real events, this movie focuses on the 19th century traveler Hugh Glass (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) who was left for dead by his team mates after being mauled by a bear.
The movie is long, violent, gross, authentic, and intense. Cinematography is absolutely stunning. This is one of those movies that has to be seen in a theater on a big screen. DiCaprio will definitely be nominated for Oscar for this role even though there is very little dialog there.
If not for the screenplay, I would give it 10.… Expand

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7

Morphine_ODJan 10, 2016

Crafted with expertise, this film delivers 2 hours or boredom and slow pacing. Difficult to enjoy for an everyday guy, and DiCaprio's character is never given a chance to shine. Hard to enjoy a revenge flick when you actually don't reallyCrafted with expertise, this film delivers 2 hours or boredom and slow pacing. Difficult to enjoy for an everyday guy, and DiCaprio's character is never given a chance to shine. Hard to enjoy a revenge flick when you actually don't really want the revenge to happen.… Expand

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

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7

JoeCoolMar 3, 2019

Lots of great vistas, superb acting but somewhat tiring to watch. Still a movie worth seeing, it's just too long. The story could have been brought better if it had been at least half an hour shorter.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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7

csw12Jan 23, 2016

The first hour of the revenant is very good with one of the best scenes in a movie this year but by the second hour it becomes a drag. Great cinematography and strong performance by Dicaprio help push the film for its nearly 3 hour length.

10 of 23 users found this helpful1013

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7

mrmonsterMay 23, 2016

Honestly, this was a bit overrated. It was still wroth watching, mainly for the action, the visual effects, and for Leonardo DiCaprio's legendary acting, but as a whole, it was kind of boring.

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7

LeZeeMay 4, 2016

The one who came back from the dead to avenge.

The movie was inspired by the real event that sets in the year 1823, United States. When one of the crew members of the hunters left behind after he was severely hurt from a bear attack, heThe one who came back from the dead to avenge.

The movie was inspired by the real event that sets in the year 1823, United States. When one of the crew members of the hunters left behind after he was severely hurt from a bear attack, he desperately looks for a way to get back to the camp alive, especially to avenge for the death of his close one. The whole film was about survival in the wilderness and to avoid the native Americans. But the introduction in the opening was very brief and in the final act, it was another brief man hunt. Overall, it was an enjoyable movie for adults with some gruesome scenes.

The movie was made on a grand scale. Well written screenplay, good direction, the cast, music and the locations, but it would have been even awesome if it was true to the original occurrence. I felt it was cinematically overdosed, especially for the commercial purpose. The fans of Leonardo Dicaprio's overwhelming celebration created a huge buzz. In fact, it looks like the entire Hollywood is his fan and the Oscars given to him out of sympathy, because I have seen his best performances better than this in the past.

The length of the movie was a big concern, should have been at least 15 minutes shorter. But the visuals were fantastic, the CGI bear was almost flawless. There are plenty of reasons why this should not be missed, at a time the narration lacks the realism. Otherwise, it would have made a wonderful semi-documentary film. So don't have high hope on this, especially if you're no ones fans, but just love watching movies like me. A little bit overrated everywhere, but still this movie is good, just good, that's it, not a masterpiece.

7/10… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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7

francisrgoJan 9, 2016

Another must see film of 2015. This is the film that Leonardo Dicaprio is finally going to win the Oscar! He was great and very different from all the douche characters he has played from Wolf of Wall Street, Great Gatsby and DjangoAnother must see film of 2015. This is the film that Leonardo Dicaprio is finally going to win the Oscar! He was great and very different from all the douche characters he has played from Wolf of Wall Street, Great Gatsby and Django Unchained. It is his to lose. The film is very gritty and some scenes are hard to watch. Alejandro Inarritu is an amazing director and really knows his sense of focus and are prominent throughout his films from Babel, Birdman and The Revenant. They all somehow revolve in one setting like a center stage. Audience are glued and fixated to the main character who is dealing with self conflict or inner demons. In Babel one of the stories is how a young girl deals with suicide. In Birdman Riggan played by Michael Keaton is dealing with his fading career and trying to get back to the limelight.… Expand

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7

AxgrinderJan 9, 2016

It can be difficult to show off your acting chops in a movie with minimal dialogue, but Leonardo DiCaprio reminds us that physical acting is an art onto itself, and gives a solid performance. The lack of dialogue is also a nuanced plotIt can be difficult to show off your acting chops in a movie with minimal dialogue, but Leonardo DiCaprio reminds us that physical acting is an art onto itself, and gives a solid performance. The lack of dialogue is also a nuanced plot device used to establish an unspoken maxim: The bad guys talk more than the good guys. Tom Hardy makes an excellent bad guy, but the dialogue he has been given (God as a squirrel) sometimes just doesn’t work very well, and maybe it’s for the best that there isn’t more of it.

The season of the film is winter, and the sun rarely shines on any of the majestic background shots. The weather is not the only thing that is bleak. Set in the American frontier, the movie is a vivid reminder not only of the devastation that early hunters/trappers wreaked on wildlife and the Native American way of life, but the brutality that frontiersmen and Native American Indians visited on each other.

Except for the scene in which DiCaprio is attacked by a bear, the story - written by director Alejandro Inarritu (Birdman) - fails to captivate. DiCaprio’s relentless desire for vengeance and his never-ending struggle to survive weigh heavily on the film’s mood. Overlay a portrayal of frontier life as totally joyless for all who live and things get downright depressing. Top it all off with a “mixed-result” ending, and a lengthy run-time of 2hrs 45 mins and you have a movie that’s a bit of a grind.… Expand

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7

Brent_MarchantJan 8, 2016

A beautifully filmed, technically proficient but decidedly bloated frontier tale that's thin on plot and character development and long on graphic violence. The fine performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Dohmnall Gleeson and (especially) TomA beautifully filmed, technically proficient but decidedly bloated frontier tale that's thin on plot and character development and long on graphic violence. The fine performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Dohmnall Gleeson and (especially) Tom Hardy help to paper over some of these shortcomings, but the film definitely would have benefited from some judicious editing, a tighter script and a little less directorial ego. As many critics have said, this is an easy film to admire but not one that's easy to like; I concur wholeheartedly.… Expand

5 of 12 users found this helpful57

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7

amohammed1975Mar 6, 2016

Beautifully filmed movie, overall great performances by the actors/actresses. That being said, the movie itself is definitely not the best movie of the year, could have been cut down significantly. In short, The Revenant is way too overhypedBeautifully filmed movie, overall great performances by the actors/actresses. That being said, the movie itself is definitely not the best movie of the year, could have been cut down significantly. In short, The Revenant is way too overhyped for the final product that we get.… Expand

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7

JamesIrish68Mar 15, 2018

Leo finally gets the Oscar he deserves with The Revenant. Di Caprio gives the performance his heart and soul and you can see it plain as day on the screen his commitment to the role. Top class production qualities, cinematography, costume,Leo finally gets the Oscar he deserves with The Revenant. Di Caprio gives the performance his heart and soul and you can see it plain as day on the screen his commitment to the role. Top class production qualities, cinematography, costume, lighting, editing etc. The bear scene is a stand out and will be what is remembered about this movie, that and the opening long shot. The weakness is that the story is a bit grueling and long drawn out to watch. Tom Hardy is nearly impossible to understand which was frustrating..Still a very good movie if not a great one..… Expand

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7

AxeTJan 20, 2016

Gripping, visceral, brutally violent, unforgiving realism. As expected DiCaprio is superb as is Tom Hardy. Leo's performance is as great and Oscar worthy as his last in the other end of the spectrum urbane "The Wolf of Wall Street" (I rateGripping, visceral, brutally violent, unforgiving realism. As expected DiCaprio is superb as is Tom Hardy. Leo's performance is as great and Oscar worthy as his last in the other end of the spectrum urbane "The Wolf of Wall Street" (I rate 10 and best of 2013), and the best scene in that movie had him crawling along the ground which I thought was good practice for all his crawling on the ground in this. As for Hardy, I've seen him in half a dozen major movies now and I still do not know what he really looks like, what he really sounds like or who the hell he really is! Talk about a chameleon.
This film is much more experiential than conventional movie. I also couldn't help but think of the films of Terrence Malick in the way he visually and sonically puts the audience into the setting in a way unlike any other and creates the experience via purely cinematic means with little if any dialogue. Malick's work however poetic is short on plot (often to its great detriment), and so is this to an extent. There is no question the filmmakers here are influenced by his work, which is not to say they aren't original in their own right. This movie is stunningly photographed and expertly edited. The score is subtlety, hauntingly effective without being over-bearing. The surround sound is more pronounced than in most movies, even the biggest. The visual effects are of perhaps the best variety, you don't even realize the extent to which you are seeing them. There is a marked punctual intensity to the action that is disturbingly effective and a wonder to how they orchestrated it all.

If sentimentality is the enemy of great art, and this film is low on sentiment but not devoid of it, then does a higher amount of sentimentality ruin a movie? It is a very fine line. "Dances with Wolves" (rating 10) came to mind while watching this as it's the same kind of story, same broad period, and also features great awesome spanning western landscapes. To me that was the very best a big Hollywood movie can be because it got me completely swept up in the emotion of it. It's ultimately always emotion that wins at the end of the day. Emotion is art's greatest aspiration and achievement. While there is some here certainly brought forth by the fine actors, it's not the kind of emotional experience that stayed with me long after leaving the theatre which is ultimately the only true test of a great movie whether it's funny and you're telling jokes about it later or haunted in your sleep thereafter. I'm not saying it hasn't stayed with me, just that it's scaled comparatively to what I know is possible.
Another movie this made me think of was "First Blood" (10) in that it features a similar kind of relentless chase for the duration and a will to survive against the harshest environment and maybe even harsher people.

Note to filmmakers: Look at this film style wise in how it uses a moving camera. The camera is almost constantly moving in rugged exterior environments yet is always smooth. It isn't shaky even amidst rough, intense action. It's called steadicam and there is never, ever any excuse if you have any kind of budget to have that stupid shaky handheld camera style! It is only acceptable used as POV and for short durations, not as style for an entire feature! As I continually rant, our eyes do not see that way contrary to the mentality of those who choose that method, so it is not more real but less so! You can cut fast but don't ever go both handheld shaky and cut it to ribbons for extra intensity when really all you are doing is losing the viewer in something that can't be followed and is subliminally known to be cheated (like the second two Bourne movies which someday will appear very dated I believe). It's not more effective, it's ineffective. Let this 'action' movie even if not the most frenetic possible be the example.… Expand

5 of 9 users found this helpful54

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7

NerdConsultantJan 26, 2016

The Revenant is the second film in row from Director Alejandro González Iñárritu to be nominated for best picture after Birdman (which won) and had some outstanding cinematography, action scenes production designs and performances but it wasThe Revenant is the second film in row from Director Alejandro González Iñárritu to be nominated for best picture after Birdman (which won) and had some outstanding cinematography, action scenes production designs and performances but it was rather lacking in it’s story and could have been slightly better plus I think it will have limited lifespan on TV screens.… Expand

3 of 9 users found this helpful36

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7

Q8MarrongGlaceMar 22, 2016

Not bad movie but after the awards I was expecting to see more of acting motion a good long speech rather than the gore scenes and suffering makeup

Overall I really enjoy it

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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7

jlhg11Jan 18, 2016

I must have not been in the mood. I was just kind of waiting for something to develop and happen. I never watch trailers so I didn't psych myself out.
Visuals are definitely great. I mostly saw Leonardo showing the world the beauty of natureI must have not been in the mood. I was just kind of waiting for something to develop and happen. I never watch trailers so I didn't psych myself out.
Visuals are definitely great. I mostly saw Leonardo showing the world the beauty of nature and giving a face to native/indigenous people. And of course his commitment to acting.
I just think if you replaced Leo with a no-name actor it would have been like watching a B movie (aside from the cinematography).… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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7

moviecritic68Jan 13, 2016

Although this film was riveting at times, I can not see it winning the Best Picture award. I give it an honorable mention at best. Dicaprio did an outstanding acting performance but his character role delivered very few lines, ScreenplayAlthough this film was riveting at times, I can not see it winning the Best Picture award. I give it an honorable mention at best. Dicaprio did an outstanding acting performance but his character role delivered very few lines, Screenplay itself relied so much on horrifying & violent scenes. BOTTOM LINE : Good entertaining movie for it's category but far from the best I've seen this year.… Expand

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

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7

notlawMay 29, 2016

7.5 for this one leonardo and tom are both just great actors and it shows in almost every movie they have been in. The revenant is a story of survival and revenge, some of the scenes in it are fantastic and other feel a little drawn out. On7.5 for this one leonardo and tom are both just great actors and it shows in almost every movie they have been in. The revenant is a story of survival and revenge, some of the scenes in it are fantastic and other feel a little drawn out. On the whole definitely worth seeing just could have been shorter.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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7

darkbloodshed13Jan 31, 2017

"The Revenant" is "The Grey" done right. It's about a guy by the name Hugh Glass a member of a hunting party with his son. Util one day Glass get's attack by bear which leads to him being left for dead by a member of his hunting party. The"The Revenant" is "The Grey" done right. It's about a guy by the name Hugh Glass a member of a hunting party with his son. Util one day Glass get's attack by bear which leads to him being left for dead by a member of his hunting party. The journey that glass goes on is intense and full of great character development. Yet the movie does make the journey a little to long. If you are looking for your typical action movie when you watch this film, you will be disappointed, but if you are looking for movie that is intense on every way and form then you will enjoy this film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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7

RalfbergsAug 31, 2016

Leo Di Caprio's performance - amazing and Oscar worthy. The movie itself - good but not that great and certainly not Oscar worthy - only great thing about movie itself was the shots of the nature and the cinematography.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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7

drambuie_Feb 14, 2016

i dont really like Iñárritu. he is a show off . same at birdman , same here.the story was short but sentimental and strong and it could just take 1,5 hour or 2 if there were not those endless yet beautiful-breathtaking scenes when no one wasi dont really like Iñárritu. he is a show off . same at birdman , same here.the story was short but sentimental and strong and it could just take 1,5 hour or 2 if there were not those endless yet beautiful-breathtaking scenes when no one was talking or even doing something .Yes the cinematography was spectacular, the costumes too,the lack of music and the reliance on the natural sounds was one of a kind . Οscar for best actor , for best supporting actor (i loved tom hardy once again) , and for director (he's a show off yet genius i have to admit ) but no Οscar for best movie from me , i need a really good story for it.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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7

Xan_RyilJan 24, 2016

Since his victory at Oscars last year, Innaritu has become a famous name and perhaps that is how he pushed the financiers to add 100 million more the the movie which was shot in the best location of northern america.

The sequences, is theSince his victory at Oscars last year, Innaritu has become a famous name and perhaps that is how he pushed the financiers to add 100 million more the the movie which was shot in the best location of northern america.

The sequences, is the word that keeps circulating my mind after watching it. The best one is the opening one. Because it has that suspense and thrill, you don't know who are they and who is attacking and what is coming to be their fate. All you see is brilliant work at screen and that great score in your ears.

Movie soon starts to take shape still we are confused what revenge will be the soul of it. Bear scene is deadly, but as internet has been taking about, it's exaggerating (much like Inarritu's overly hyped Birdman). Soon after we find out what revenge the title talks about.

But more then revenge, it's a survival movie. A man who survives everything being driven by the energy to seek revenge. Scenery of the movie is magnificent. And they have brilliant cinematography and Score to make it magical. However at time it feels excessive and ploy to win awards (we know how much they want it). Even at time's it felt like National Geographic's documentary.

One thing that The Revanant lacks is the grip over script. Characters are quite shabby with focus on only one character and one goal which makes everyone in the story a supporting character who did not get any attention by the writers. As I mentioned before, one is confused who would Glass seek revenge from? But even after it's cleared, we are so driven by the title and the sequences that we don't realize how hallow the reason of revenge is. And we also ignore the superficial recovery of Glass's wounds which accelerated (even) at the final night at camp. Not to mention the use of horses that much high at snow is bit too much.

Leonardo Dicaprio is heart and soul of the movie. The actor brings all the intensity (much like his all roles) to the character. He slept in a horse carcass once but he slept in Glass's mind for months. He deserves every bit of recognition for going into those frozen waters, eating raw meat and doing deadly stunts. Tom hardy (who is amazing otherwise) rather then playing a southern rotten soldier played Christian Bale from The Fighter. His accent was very fake and so was his performance. Rest of the actors did not got much to do they appeared as puppets. Cinematography, Score and Editing are perfect. Inarritu tried to take inspiration from James Cameron for stunning visualization which he succeeded but Mr Cameron never compromises on the script which Inarritu did. But he brought together all those people and made this movie which is great (if you could digest all lope-holes)… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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7

moviescriticnetFeb 2, 2016

Is The Revenant the best movie of the year? Surely not and in fact it's doubtful if it's a great movie at all.
Ok, so Alejandro Inarritu wanted to be realistic, moved to Argentina for more snow, had actors crawling naked in it and other ****Is The Revenant the best movie of the year? Surely not and in fact it's doubtful if it's a great movie at all.
Ok, so Alejandro Inarritu wanted to be realistic, moved to Argentina for more snow, had actors crawling naked in it and other **** like that, but seriously what is the point of the film? And what is so realistic about getting almost raped by a giant bear and attacked by uncountable Indians and elements of nature but still managing to survive to get revenge? Inarritu is a great director, perhaps the best (along with Christopher Nolan) of our time and the movie is technically and artistically perfect. If he hadn't already won the direction Oscar last year with Birdman, he would certainly get this one. DiCaprio's performance is brilliant but so is each and every of his performances. Still they'll finally grant him an Oscar for his crawling and growling in the Revenant but in reality it will be an Oscar for his entire career. Tom Hardy's performance is even better and he deserves it even more than DiCaprio but he is going to lose to ... Stallone (Jesus Christ Academy, you suck!). Nevertheless and despite some very impressive scenes (namely the entrance scene, the bear scene, the horse scene and the final revenge scene and that's it) and artistic beauty, a movie should have a ... script and this one has none. So it ends up being a Cast Away clone without the emotional touch of the last.… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

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7

SierpinaJan 28, 2016

DI CAPRIO, dejo la vida en esta película con el único fin de ganar ese esquivo OSCAR que no posee, y la verdad es que lo ganara con creces. La película en si es un survival horror de 2 horas y media, donde el frió los balazos y el sufrimientoDI CAPRIO, dejo la vida en esta película con el único fin de ganar ese esquivo OSCAR que no posee, y la verdad es que lo ganara con creces. La película en si es un survival horror de 2 horas y media, donde el frió los balazos y el sufrimiento no para (quizás un poco exagerado y forzado), hasta la hora y media de duración la película es lentísima, advierto que hay que tenerle paciencia. La dirección de Gonzalez Iñarritu es digna del mejor director del momento.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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7

CandyVAJan 27, 2016

It was compelling but not inspiring. Made you appreciate modern conveniences of civilization but I'm not sure if t represents amazing acting by DiCaprio just because his character was torn up so much. There is rage, plenty of agony and pain,It was compelling but not inspiring. Made you appreciate modern conveniences of civilization but I'm not sure if t represents amazing acting by DiCaprio just because his character was torn up so much. There is rage, plenty of agony and pain, but it's not as if he actually endured it. The best performance is by Tom Hardy who I couldn't tell was playing the role until they ran the credits at the end. I was amazed that this actor could transform himself with a heavy southern accent and acting that truly made you hate him. I had seen him play a young Patrick Stewart in a Star Trek movie and couldn't believe this was the same person in this movie. Totally believable as a redneck with a southern twang, when in reality he is English with a heavy English accent. Few actors amaze me like that. Hardy deserves his Oscar nomination and deserves to win, but they'll probably give it to Stallone for sentimental reasons.… Expand

5 of 7 users found this helpful52

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7

NicoteenJan 22, 2016

"The Revenant is a good movie, but i had to high expectations, so in the end it was a little disappointing and never as good like Birdman. But give Leo this Oscar!!!"

+ (positive) : - intro / intro battle - brutal, hard, rough scenes -"The Revenant is a good movie, but i had to high expectations, so in the end it was a little disappointing and never as good like Birdman. But give Leo this Oscar!!!"

+ (positive) :
- intro / intro battle
- brutal, hard, rough scenes
- great setting
- Leonardo DiCaprio's performance
- brutal survival scenes
- cinematic
- fight scenes

- (negative) :
- rare dialogues
- far to long survival scenes
- so much potential
- mid-part

GENRE RATING: 8.1
OVERALL RATING: 7.2… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

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7

silvercultureJan 6, 2016

The story has a lot holes and predictable, but the film is saved by the incredible cinematography. I really enjoyed the long shots that showed the entire scene in one single shot, very unique and astonishing. DiCaprio was committed to hisThe story has a lot holes and predictable, but the film is saved by the incredible cinematography. I really enjoyed the long shots that showed the entire scene in one single shot, very unique and astonishing. DiCaprio was committed to his role but the faulty story is not strong enough to make him win an Oscar.… Expand

5 of 12 users found this helpful57

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7

DarkSideOTForceJan 8, 2016

I thought Leo did a great job acting, howerver, the movies resembles Castaway, Jeremiah Johnson, Death Hunt 3, and Gladiator wrapped up into one movie. Good but not great;

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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7

VideoJuegosComFeb 4, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is all you can expect from an Iñarritu movie. If you liked Birdman, you will like this one. Bad thing is that, if you got bored with Birdman, you will feel the urge to get out of the theatre on this one. Many elements of the movie are great, but others feel very irreal, like the fight with the bear. It is not possible that a normal human being could survive that fight. Also extreme freezing and hunger conditions. Many other characters die quick, but not the main one, so, that will make the story feel kinda empty.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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7

therealjayemceeJan 15, 2016

Revenant delivers but at times feels like a lengthy posturing on the part of Leo and director Inarritu. Leo is excellent in his role. Tom Hardy is unrecognizable. Certainly worth checking out.

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

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7

gouldmanJan 22, 2016

Nobody seems to even notice that the weather is lethally cold. They splash about in the freezing water and sleep under the stars with only a few blankets for cover...... acting as though they were in a movie!

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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7

provenhumansJan 25, 2016

This movie is so manly I grew a beard halfway through. Joking, but do not take women to see this movie. They will ruin it for you and will not enjoy it themselves. I loved the acting, story-line, fight scenes, gore... Really makes you feelThis movie is so manly I grew a beard halfway through. Joking, but do not take women to see this movie. They will ruin it for you and will not enjoy it themselves. I loved the acting, story-line, fight scenes, gore... Really makes you feel like a man. I loved this movie, but it did not get a 10 for one reason. The sound score was absolutely atrocious. Painful to listen to. During an extremely dramatic fight scene we hear 4 vibrato notes through out the whole movie. Who hires a first time, contemporary composer to make a film score for such a high rated movie with such high standards for excellence? I love Leonardo DiCaprio, and hope he gets that Oscar.. and for his acting in this movie I believe he should receive it. However, this movie deserves no other recognition because of the terrible decisions made by whomever decided to hire such a terrible composer.… Expand

6 of 8 users found this helpful62

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7

pureshoresMar 25, 2016

My only problem is it's obvious the Academy knew they should've given Leo the Best Actor trophy for the Wolf of Wall Street, gave it to him with this instead. He's good but he didn't convince me as a father from which the whole movie somewhatMy only problem is it's obvious the Academy knew they should've given Leo the Best Actor trophy for the Wolf of Wall Street, gave it to him with this instead. He's good but he didn't convince me as a father from which the whole movie somewhat stood upon. As far as acting award goes, Tom Hardy should've gotten one. If he continues to make good choices, we're looking at a living legend right now.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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7

HolioEscobanApr 15, 2016

A film with just as many vistas as there was to make up for lack of dialogue and true character progress. The film was indulgent in every sense of the word, however the performances across the board we brilliant. Realistic and honest. AA film with just as many vistas as there was to make up for lack of dialogue and true character progress. The film was indulgent in every sense of the word, however the performances across the board we brilliant. Realistic and honest. A tiring but good movie to watch… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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7

LoveeLandApr 23, 2016

The Revenant is one of the most realistic movies ever produced. It is incredibly gripping, full of beautiful shots, and very dark with outstanding performances by Leo, Tom Hardy, and the rest of the crew. It must be understood however thatThe Revenant is one of the most realistic movies ever produced. It is incredibly gripping, full of beautiful shots, and very dark with outstanding performances by Leo, Tom Hardy, and the rest of the crew. It must be understood however that those looking for a 1800s action thriller will be disappointed as it is simply not that kind of movie, nor was it meant to be. This is simply a story of redemption and revenge, and survival against all odds, and while it has action the majority of the movie consists of Leo walking around just breathing between the action scenes. It is a very slow paced movie, which adds to the realism in many ways and allows for awe inspiring shots of the landscape. The fight scenes are incredibly realistic and refreshing as it is no longer simply a bunch of choreographed punches and well timed hits like all Hollywood films, but rather all out brawls that look unorganized and lifelike. The only faults I give it are that the movie doesn't have a consistent pace, as in the beginning we couldn't miss a character blink and the final 10-15 minutes cover like a 1-2 day period. Also at times there are scenes that are too long and unimportant. You'll spend 3 minutes watching Leo slowly ascend a hill just to see bison run around on a plain. Despite these flaws the Revenant is a movie definitely worth the watch, and rightfully delivered Leo is first Oscar award for best lead actor… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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7

AngusBarbudezAug 26, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Esta bien, pero no es pa tanto. En otras palabras, un pedo al viento.

Lo Bueno

-Bien filmada
-Tom Hardy lo borda
-Las escenas de acción muy bien hechas,

Lo Malo

-Alargada hasta limites de la cordura, una pelicula que le sobra por lo menos una hora de metraje .
-Fría, 0 empatía con los personajes.
- Algunas situaciones de Dicaprio son de chiste.
- Pomposa y pedante como ella sola.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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7

The3AcademySinsAug 20, 2018

The Revenant is a film that attempts to reach great heights, and makes it most of the way there. Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy give great performances, and there is a solid supporting cast, but the biggest problem with the movie is that weThe Revenant is a film that attempts to reach great heights, and makes it most of the way there. Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy give great performances, and there is a solid supporting cast, but the biggest problem with the movie is that we are never really able to get in Glass's head and connect with him. There are a lot of weird, out-there scenes, and the final battle, while cool, really does not feel like a good payoff. Still, it is worth a watch from me!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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7

ZerpnosMar 4, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Tamamen Di Caprio üzerine oynayan film, karakterin hayatta kalmasını ve oğlunun intikam almasını konu alıyor. Bu senaryoyu güzel bir şekilde işleyen film, Di Caprio'ya Oscar kazanmasını sağlıyor.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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7

trustyslothJan 15, 2018

Everyone is talking about the amazing technical aspects and the perfect direction by Alejandro G. Iñarritu of the movie. Meanwhile I admire Lubeski's astounding visuals and the director's effort in this, I really can't see the point. It lacksEveryone is talking about the amazing technical aspects and the perfect direction by Alejandro G. Iñarritu of the movie. Meanwhile I admire Lubeski's astounding visuals and the director's effort in this, I really can't see the point. It lacks emotion and originality. Which are my two favorite things in film. I can't give it less than a 7 because the look of it is too damn impressive.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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6

BHBarryJan 9, 2016

"The Revenant" stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy in this "based in part on a true story" of mountaineer Hugh Glass and his fight for survival in the South Dakota wilderness after an almost fatal encounter with a bear. The film was"The Revenant" stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy in this "based in part on a true story" of mountaineer Hugh Glass and his fight for survival in the South Dakota wilderness after an almost fatal encounter with a bear. The film was directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Innarritu ("Birdman") who, with Mark L. Smith, co-wrote the screenplay based on the novel by Michael Punke. Although shot in Canada and Argentina, the film attempts to depict the challenges of a South Dakota winter n 1823. The word "revenant" is derived from the French word "revenir" (i.e. to return) and literally means the return of the spirit from the dead. This is the plight of Mr. DiCaprio’s character as he struggles across the barren icy wasteland for over 2 and ½ hours of viewing time. The audience also feels his pain and anguish since it too has to suffer through this ordeal as it is forced to endure a tedious and overlong excursion through the cold and unforgiving wilderness. The difference of course is that Mr. DiCaprio was paid for his suffering while the audience was not. Mr. DiCaprio’s character is enmeshed in a thin story line and basically has a non-verbal role as the script requires him to do a great amount of crawling and some groaning but, unfortunately, these do not necessarily rise to the level of great entertainment.
One must acknowledge the haunting and vitally important original musical score created by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto and the spectacular photography of Emmanuel Lubizki. That being said, I found myself looking at my watch at least 3 times during the film in hopes that it was nearing its conclusion and wondering why I saw what the editor didn’t. I give the film a 6.0 rating for it proves once again that advertising and hype will not always make a film great but a quality screenplay and strong acting performances will. In my opinion, this film is lacking in both.… Expand

6 of 11 users found this helpful65

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6

StevieGJDJan 22, 2016

The acting is very good in this film. I will be surprised if DiCaprio does not win the Oscar this time. The supporting performances are all very good. The cinematography is beautiful and, at times, breathtaking. But this movie is far tooThe acting is very good in this film. I will be surprised if DiCaprio does not win the Oscar this time. The supporting performances are all very good. The cinematography is beautiful and, at times, breathtaking. But this movie is far too long and self-indulgent and the end is terrible. This movie is based on a true story that ended differently. There was also an earlier version of this story that, while not as pretty as this film, was more consistent with the real story. Iñárritu can apparently do wrong in the eyes of Hollywood. But while I liked Amores Perros, 21 Grams and Babel, I thought Birdman had a dumb ending and the annoying artifact of the faux continuous shot was pretentious. The Revenant, while beautiful and well acted (much like Birdman was well acted), is also pretentious and far too long.I know nobody in Hollywood is going to say it, but the emperor is wearing no clothes.… Expand

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

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6

ZlatanDec 26, 2015

Like watching a rehash of bear grylls survival guides on discovery. Sad and boring movie for me, and this is dragging on through the whole movie. Nature shots are amazing.

4 of 9 users found this helpful45

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6

preciouskikiFeb 7, 2016

Too violent, too gory, and at over two-and-a-half hours, much too long. Twice, my friend leaned over and asked to see my watch, saying "How much longer?!" The performances and the production values are all excellent, but the constant goryToo violent, too gory, and at over two-and-a-half hours, much too long. Twice, my friend leaned over and asked to see my watch, saying "How much longer?!" The performances and the production values are all excellent, but the constant gory violence becomes too repetitive. The revenge aspect of the plotline was emotionally manipulative.… Expand

0 of 7 users found this helpful07

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6

ScraperJan 30, 2016

It's just not very clever. It's a linear story that comes to believable conclusions. DiCaprio is good in the movie. He plays a battered and soul-dead survivor who rarely speaks. It's a lot of grunts and scowls. Doesn't really have theIt's just not very clever. It's a linear story that comes to believable conclusions. DiCaprio is good in the movie. He plays a battered and soul-dead survivor who rarely speaks. It's a lot of grunts and scowls. Doesn't really have the dimension. It's not his fault. He does his best with the material, but outside of the shocking violence, what is really moving you about this film? Not much.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

WiscoJoeJan 11, 2016

Mad Max: Oregon Trail

An impressive technical exercise that is often beautiful to look at and easy to admire, this is a surprisingly superficial and simplistic look at survival and revenge in the wilderness. Leonardo DiCaprio tortures andMad Max: Oregon Trail

An impressive technical exercise that is often beautiful to look at and easy to admire, this is a surprisingly superficial and simplistic look at survival and revenge in the wilderness. Leonardo DiCaprio tortures and degrades himself for your amusement for two-and-a-half hours, which is an impressive act of commitment, but doesn't do much to develop a character or tell a story. This is the 'Blair Witch' school of acting, where the exhaustion and annoyance of a real life actor is used as lazy short hand for some sort of transcendent terror that the film is too slavish to it's capital C 'Craft' to ever achieve. Again, Emmanuel Lubezki proves why he's one of the greats, but even his impressive use of natural lighting here can seem like a stiffing gimmick as one over-cast grey landscape bleeds into another. You'll keep hoping for some sunlight to eventually break through the monotony and add some dimension to both the scenery and the story.… Expand

6 of 11 users found this helpful65

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6

TyranianAug 13, 2019

A fairly thrilling visual feast though the characters are not very interesting or complex.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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6

foxgroveJan 20, 2016

Leonardo DiCaprio suffers with grim determination in this long and brutal story of betrayal, survival and revenge. However, this very physically demanding performance does not wow as it should. The almost total lack of dialogue for theLeonardo DiCaprio suffers with grim determination in this long and brutal story of betrayal, survival and revenge. However, this very physically demanding performance does not wow as it should. The almost total lack of dialogue for the character results in viewer alienation and a lack of empathy. One watches the horrific events unfold, but with a dispassionate detachment and some distaste. Director Alejandro G Inarritu creates a wonderful atmosphere environmentally. The locations, beautiful but forbidding, are awesomely captured by cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki whose work here is just stunning. The film is worth seeing for his achievement alone. Also many scenes have a visceral quality to them, none more so than the Indian and bear attacks which both happen within the first half an hour and are excitingly and shockingly staged. Visual effects for the bear are incredibly good. After this events meander from one bloody scene to the next leaving one somewhat anaesthetised to the grisliness of it all. Suspension of disbelief is also a requirement in accepting just how quickly DiCaprio is back on his feet after his mauling by the bear, let alone scaling mountains (one sequence shows him at the top of a mountain unable to walk; the next scene shows him drinking from the lake below!). In support, Tom Hardy also disappoints, but this is once again mainly due to a vocalisation of his character that is often unintelligible. As we all know DiCaprio will win his long overdue Oscar here, and there is no denying that he is a deserving recipient. It’s just a shame that he will be rewarded, as happens all too often by the conventional and short sighted Academy, for this performance over one of his previous more deserving roles.… Expand

7 of 9 users found this helpful72

All this user's reviews

6

musicforallJan 17, 2016

This movie was pretty cool but it was a little over-the-top. All the actors were compelling and the scenery, wardrobe and music were great, too. I loved the grizzly bear scene and the first fight scene.

But it got a little ridiculousThis movie was pretty cool but it was a little over-the-top. All the actors were compelling and the scenery, wardrobe and music were great, too. I loved the grizzly bear scene and the first fight scene.

But it got a little ridiculous with the constant grittiness. Reminded me of how the standard of gore keeps getting pushed from Braveheart to Gettysburg to Saving Private Ryan, etc. SPOILERS AHEAD. About the time he rode the horse off the cliff and then proceeded to live in it like a tan-tan, I started to get tired. It stopped being interesting and started being more formulaic revenge fantasy with stuff like a convenient side-kick who conveniently dies.

Basically, they could have done better with what they had. Great actors, beautiful imagery, creative chapters but it seemed like it ran off course in the last 1/3 of the movie.… Expand

9 of 11 users found this helpful92

All this user's reviews

6

TheWaffleJan 14, 2016

This is a great movie for masochists. Fairly early on you'll come to the realization that this is going be be a long, brutal slog. Beautifully shot and acted, The Revenant is certainly a good movie. Unfortunately, it just doesn't know when toThis is a great movie for masochists. Fairly early on you'll come to the realization that this is going be be a long, brutal slog. Beautifully shot and acted, The Revenant is certainly a good movie. Unfortunately, it just doesn't know when to move on. Our hero is pushed through one brutal encounter after another to the point that it begins to feel an awful lot like a torture fetish. There is an on-going side-plot that is of little relevance to the overall storyline, except for introducing just a little more brutality into what is already a violent world.

Tom Hardy is the real star of the film, and we see him play at different levels, whereas Di Caprio is constantly turned up to 11. There isn't a scene where he's not suffering, brooding, or murdering. He endures difficulties that make Watership Down look tame, and the whole film plays like a marathon of pain with never a moment of respite. The very sparse moments of relief feel more like a sigh of exhaustion rather than moments of triumph.

I would have liked to see the filmmakers go a little less conventional with their approach to Hardy's character Fitzgerald. In some ways he's the obligatory racist villain cast against Di Caprio's earnest, heroic, damsel-saving protagonist. But with slightly different choices the film could have been less one-dimensional, and Hardy and Di Caprio could have been pitted against each other by fate and not because Hardy is just evil. Hardy's justifications for his actions make sense, and it's not clear why he needed to be lying for them.… Expand

7 of 11 users found this helpful74

All this user's reviews

6

muldjordFeb 13, 2016

I wouldn't say this movie is bad. About half the time it is actually quite good. Great acting all around and beautiful scenery. But there's a general lack of character to it. I never felt invested in the story or the main character. It justI wouldn't say this movie is bad. About half the time it is actually quite good. Great acting all around and beautiful scenery. But there's a general lack of character to it. I never felt invested in the story or the main character. It just seemed that what he was going through was so blown out of proportion that it made no sense. I didn't feel his pain, I mainly just observed and wondered.

I wasn't bored as such. But the disconnect because of the unrealistic rehabilitation was too much, so it became a nature documentary with some well-acted situations spread throughout.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

misadventurerJan 1, 2016

The Revenant reviewed

by jd ep In short, The Revenant could just be called "Leo goes roughing it." Widely to be considered a front runner for many awards in early 2016, Alejandro Iñárritu's film about a mountain man savaged by a bear,The Revenant reviewed

by jd ep

In short, The Revenant could just be called "Leo goes roughing it." Widely to be considered a front runner for many awards in early 2016, Alejandro Iñárritu's film about a mountain man savaged by a bear, who then hunts down the man who killed his son, starring Leonardo DiCaprio & Tom Hardy, also has a lot going against it when the accolades come, more a story of Production vs Nature, the Canadian wilderness where the film was shot, in order (most films are shot out of order to make the most of the locations as needed) didn't have the amount of snow needed, so the filming had to move to Patagonia in South America to finish, a rough shoot for everyone involved, going over budget and taking more time than anyone anticipated. Though it can be said Iñárritu did not compromise for his vision, and what we get as an audience is a feast for the eyes, and heartthrob DiCaprio gets dragged through the mud for most of the film and so much worse happens to him. As for story, it's fairly barebones, DiCaprio's character of Hugh Glass (which i'm almost certain Bart Simpson called Moe's and used that name for a crank call) is hired by a fur trapping company to get them through an Indian hunting ground, the company gets attacked and they must make their way back to port, Glass goes off on his own and ends up on the wrong side of a Mama Bear who beats the crap out of him, Glass who is supposed to be a little more attuned to nature than the average Anglo, who has a half Native son, and can speak Algonquin, doesn't know how to play dead and shoots at the bear after it started walking away, for a second round of savagery where he gets brutalized even more than the initial attack, and all this happens within the first twenty minutes of the film. A couple survivors of the Fur Trapping team find him and stitch him up, the leader of the company played by Domhnall Gleeson, does the honorable thing of attempting to bring him home for a proper burial for his services rendered, though they get lost, Gleeson asks for a team of men to watch over the dying Glass and to give him a proper burial when he finally passes, while the rest go home, and offers a handsome bonus for anyone who does this service. Tom Hardy & Will Poulter (the boy from "We're the Millers") 's characters stay back with Glass's son Hawk. Hardy gets impatient that Glass won't die, so he decided to just bury him and tells Poulter to put a bullet in Glass, Hawk protests, Hardy kills DiCaprio's son, Poulter doesn't have what it takes to kill Glass and the two make their way back only to be denied their bonuses, due to the accounting of their provisions and everyone came home empty handed. Hugh Glass manages to drag himself back to the camp after finding his son dead and then pursues Hardy. Nothing else really goes on. It's a thin tale of avarice and revenge, where two handsome actors made themselves look ugly and beat each other up. The Revenant gives up the ghost. I thought maybe Hugh had died and he really was just a spirit of revenge, but how the movie ends is so anticlimactic it takes away what satisfaction could be had in a revenge tale. Though it was a very pretty film, for being so ugly.

Film Grade: C.… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

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6

AntoGrayoJan 15, 2016

I honestly didn't think it was that good! The pace switched from slow to fast too much and then there was those weird dream sequences all of the time. I get it, he killed an American officer to protect his son, but if he is fighting for hisI honestly didn't think it was that good! The pace switched from slow to fast too much and then there was those weird dream sequences all of the time. I get it, he killed an American officer to protect his son, but if he is fighting for his life every day and his son has been killed by Hardy, why the **** would he keep dreaming about that one incident? It's just one of the many points that makes this film unrealistic, when that is exactly what it tries so hard to be(realistic).

Worth a watch if your a DiCaprio fan, but it's not his best piece. Wolf of Wall Street and The Departed are way better. I'll even add Gangs of New York and Titanic to that list. Also I actually felt Tom Hardy was the better actor, but that's probably down to fault of the director and I had just watched Legend. Seeing the two wildly different roles one man played made me appreciate his acting so much more.

But yeah, Revenant, mehh..… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

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6

Unladenswallow0Jan 19, 2016

Was okay, plenty of action, and the bear scene was terrifying, but the rest was just leonardo going prone through the woods, swimming, observing the local bison population, and performing Grand Theft Equine before reaching the final bossWas okay, plenty of action, and the bear scene was terrifying, but the rest was just leonardo going prone through the woods, swimming, observing the local bison population, and performing Grand Theft Equine before reaching the final boss room. A lot happened in this movie, but parts of it were drawn out and laborious, a shame when you see how brilliant the first 10 minutes were.… Expand

8 of 9 users found this helpful81

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6

walkabout_88Mar 6, 2016

There's an interesting contrast to see a film that strives for rawness, but such perfectly glossy, polished, digitally shot landscapes. The sense of despair, conversely, is mostly rendered by close-ups and lots of graphic details. It keepsThere's an interesting contrast to see a film that strives for rawness, but such perfectly glossy, polished, digitally shot landscapes. The sense of despair, conversely, is mostly rendered by close-ups and lots of graphic details. It keeps this level of schizophrenia very high, with beautifully choreographed action scenes that result in massive amounts of graphic detail, as well as postcards of the astonishing locations viciously, obsessively enriched with blood and various degrees of happily detailed internal organs. It's likely of one of those works who dare its viewers to watch. Hardy sounds like a clearer Bane, here.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

royphishoohDec 28, 2015

Just watched The Revenant; good performance by Leonardo di Caprio but who the hell cast Amersmiff boy Tom Hardy as a Texan Fur Trapper? Absolutely terrible ham acting with a ludicrous incomprehensible accent, a real disappointment afterJust watched The Revenant; good performance by Leonardo di Caprio but who the hell cast Amersmiff boy Tom Hardy as a Texan Fur Trapper? Absolutely terrible ham acting with a ludicrous incomprehensible accent, a real disappointment after "Legend". It's directed by the Mexican fellow who did "Birdman" last year, obviously the latest flavour in Hollywood but like Birdman it's not very good.… Expand

8 of 17 users found this helpful89

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6

FredinTorontoFeb 15, 2016

This is the most over-rated film of the year.The cinematography is gorgeous and unrivalled by the other films released in 2015. Other than that, I can't think of anything else complimentary to say. The plot is basic and the movie plods along.This is the most over-rated film of the year.The cinematography is gorgeous and unrivalled by the other films released in 2015. Other than that, I can't think of anything else complimentary to say. The plot is basic and the movie plods along. DiCaprio moans and grunts his way through most of it.… Expand

5 of 7 users found this helpful52

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6

YorkManDec 25, 2015

Beautifully shot film, showing the harshness of the freezing environment and the struggle for man to survive and attempt to make a living.
Leonardo DiCaprio should be at least Oscar nominated for his performance as the man left for deadBeautifully shot film, showing the harshness of the freezing environment and the struggle for man to survive and attempt to make a living.
Leonardo DiCaprio should be at least Oscar nominated for his performance as the man left for dead seeking revenge against Tom Hardy's character, but I don't think he should win.
Best Director Oscar, most definitely, but the actors in the film are secondary to the gorgeous cinematography and breathtaking scenery.
As for the film, as a piece of 'work'... It's far too long, and ultimately unsatisfying as a movie. It's all visual, with no character depth at all.… Expand

5 of 9 users found this helpful54

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6

TowelzzJan 16, 2016

A solid film but a bit overrated. This film has a decent script, strong acting, and beautiful cinematography.... But it just doesn't feel like an overall satisfying film. I think the biggest problem with this movie is that it doesn't knowA solid film but a bit overrated. This film has a decent script, strong acting, and beautiful cinematography.... But it just doesn't feel like an overall satisfying film. I think the biggest problem with this movie is that it doesn't know whether it wants to be a survival film or a revenge film. It introduces itself as a revenge film but 90% of time, it seems that its just a survival film. Only at the very end does it suddenly switch back to a revenge film. And the plot doesn't really go anywhere in terms of character development and story. Its more or less just telling us "DiCaprio has to go through a lot, look at how much he has to go through" so much to the point where it's like: Yeah we get it, is the plot/story going to advance anywhere?

***SPOILER ALERT***

One of the BIGGEST issues I have with this film is the ending. And by that I mean DiCaprio's character not finishing off Hardy and instead letting his fate be put "in God's hands." Ummm wtf??? Where the hell did this "death is in the hands of God" theme come from and why??? Not a single moment throughout the entire film did DiCaprio's character reference God/religion so why have this unnecessary and random revelation??? It would have been a MUCH more satisfying and sensible ending if DiCaprio had killed Hardy himself. A very poor "twist" and definitely one of the weakest points in the script.

Despite its flaws, this is still a decent film, though I would certainly say that it does NOT deserve to be nominated for Best Picture.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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6

gerardoguerraJan 27, 2016

Predictable and too many leaks in the Script!.
Why two men only chase one guy when they have tens of people ready to fight?
Last fight scene should be dramatic or hilarious?
Wonderful Acting, Sound and Cinematography.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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6

GgodardJan 13, 2016

Beautiful- gripping at times, and then-nothing albeit predictable. There was so much expert craft in the first half of the film, did the crew get tired? The mystery and symbolism that was at first intriguing, became so repetitive, that itBeautiful- gripping at times, and then-nothing albeit predictable. There was so much expert craft in the first half of the film, did the crew get tired? The mystery and symbolism that was at first intriguing, became so repetitive, that it became almost annoying. I really wished they would have followed through.… Expand

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

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6

RatedRexJan 24, 2016

After a promising 1st act the "The Revenant slows to crawl. There are too many scenes of survival that have nothing to do with the story. The film could have easily been cut by 30 minutes. Actually, the most interesting part of the movie wasAfter a promising 1st act the "The Revenant slows to crawl. There are too many scenes of survival that have nothing to do with the story. The film could have easily been cut by 30 minutes. Actually, the most interesting part of the movie was the Pawnee chief's search for his kidnapped daughter. Leonardo DiCaprio does grunting and grimacing well. He will win the Oscar, but any decent actor would have done well with such a meaty role. Alejandro Inarritu's direction of the battle scenes is exceptional. There is a realism in the opening scene, especially, that is unique. If only the story could have justified the movie's length.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

yosemiteJun 24, 2016

Leo is my favorite actor. See all of his films. Don't think he should have won the AA. Too little dialogue. Very realistic film. I'm sure the old pioneers were as violent as portrayed. Survival of the strongest in a wilderness that took noLeo is my favorite actor. See all of his films. Don't think he should have won the AA. Too little dialogue. Very realistic film. I'm sure the old pioneers were as violent as portrayed. Survival of the strongest in a wilderness that took no prisoners. I know about dramatic license but I don't think the human body could take the damage that Leo's character and survive in the brutal cold.At the end of the day, do you want to be entertained by a movie. If you do, don't see this one. Its a good film that is not enjoyable to watch.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

MarxonJan 16, 2016

It started out great with a decently paced introduction to the setting but as time went on you start to notice one or two moments of stupidity and worst of all repetitive and pointless scenes of walking and sleeping. The ending was OK andIt started out great with a decently paced introduction to the setting but as time went on you start to notice one or two moments of stupidity and worst of all repetitive and pointless scenes of walking and sleeping. The ending was OK and helped make up for the tediously boring middle sections.

To clarify on my earlier comment about 'stupid' scenes;

#1 - For whatever reason our hero decides it is a good idea to eat raw liver when their isn't just one but three perfectly good fires around him.

#2 - About half way through the film the cause of all the problems faced by our hero is revealed, I won't say what but really when you consider they meet these guys before and had men walk about the camp they failed to notice the one person the natives we're looking for?… Expand

7 of 10 users found this helpful73

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6

AntonishereFeb 1, 2016

Í´m disappointed, with all the hype and nominations that this movie had I felt the need to go see it, even on release date and with terrible seats for not planning it very well. And even if the acting, direction, shots and production valueÍ´m disappointed, with all the hype and nominations that this movie had I felt the need to go see it, even on release date and with terrible seats for not planning it very well. And even if the acting, direction, shots and production value are there the characters are not interesting or fleshed out (except for Tom´s Hardy character), its not the actors fault that the script was boring and the pacing average at best.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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6

PattorpyFeb 17, 2016

There is no doubt that Leonardo DiCaprio is a good actor and he knows how to play, but two things I remember most after I saw "The Revenant" are beautiful views and Leonardo's suffering face. Movie is pretty long and in my opinion the cameraThere is no doubt that Leonardo DiCaprio is a good actor and he knows how to play, but two things I remember most after I saw "The Revenant" are beautiful views and Leonardo's suffering face. Movie is pretty long and in my opinion the camera is too many times getting close to DiCaprio to see how he hurts. There is not enough action, but when it is, it's really good.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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6

that_bearFeb 29, 2016

Note: reasonable spoiler, not much you won't know if you've seen the trailer.

What a disappointment! First I'm a big fan of that kind of period piece, I'm a fan of the historical, I quite like Inarratu, I don't think Leo is the bestNote: reasonable spoiler, not much you won't know if you've seen the trailer.

What a disappointment!

First I'm a big fan of that kind of period piece, I'm a fan of the historical, I quite like Inarratu, I don't think Leo is the best thing since sliced bread but I generally like him ok.
So here comes "the Revenant", great photography, all filmed in location, in natural light, with attention to details and historicity (they consulted some figure), talented director, lead actor that can act. All the stars seem aligned and that's probably what most critic though considering the overwhelmingly positive reception.

And yet, somehow, this didn't quite click for me.

First the good: photography is manificient, movie is filmed in location, in natural light, and it shows. The environnment is manificient. Picture has grain. There's grit, it's almost palpable. In this era of CGI BS it is really a benediction to see that kind of filming. It really, really is the best part of the movie, and if only for that you should see this movie, and see it again. I repeat, go see it twice.
Now, what doesn't quite work: anything else. When you put so much effort in filming "real" picture why spoil it with such an artificial script. I'm not sure if I don't like the movie because it is not the movie I wanted to see or because it really is not great.

The script really is not all that bad. Problem is such formidable filming needed a extraordinary script while what we are being given is quite pedestrian. When you got gritty visual, you'd expect true to life long, slow-paced and intense nature journey. Unfortunately this is all expedited pretty quickly. It seems the woods are full of people, trappers, indians, apparently you can't hike (or crawl) a mile without running into someone. There are guns everywhere, people shoot in every direction. The movie would qualify better as a western than as the introspective journey it is sold as.

While the movie prides itself (with reasons) for its filming it is also riddled with unnecessary CGI, and I am not even talking about the titular bear everyone has heard of. There are many dream of action sequences you could really do without. Just simplicity, no need to overload every aspect of the movie.

Which leads us to final part: the script. Maybe it's weird but I somehow found myself rooting for the bad guy (Tom Hardy's character). The first scenes of the movie quickly establish that the characters are living in an era where human life is clearly expandable, where people live miserably and then die brutally for no good reason. So people get casually killed, and then Leo get mauled and all the sudden it becomes like everyone is suddenly living by the motto "leave no one behind" and Leo is treated like he is some royalty. And then when Hardy's character decides he'll just get rid of dying Leo, which seems like a fairly reasonable decision for people who are themselves in pretty dire situation, it is treated like the most evil decision ever. This is where the movie started falling apart for me, while the movie seemed focused on being authentic it suddenly tried to artificially tack on modern morals to a gritty period piece. The movie has a choice between a fantasy character that lives by anachronical moral code and a realistic one that will do what humans do to survive... and it chooses the wrong one.

(Note: and before you tell me this is based on a true story, the only thing true is that the real Glass got abandoned and buried and somehow got back to civilisation by himself, but all the details available are pretty sketchy and romanticized).

And boy does the movie want you to feel this way, in case you might think Fitz (Hardy's character) is acting reasonably, the movie makes sure you think he is evil: he is racist, greedy, vulgar, he even is from Texas. And he kills Leo's son for odd reasons, so he definitely is unredeemable. Ok script, why not, but really isn't that a little cheap, couldn't things be a little more blurry. In the end ***Minor spoiler*** while Leo finally gets the upper hand on Hardy, he just utters "You came all this way just for your revenge, huh? Did you enjoy it?" and it really rung right to me, but than catching this thread Leo, and the movie, just treat it as some last moustache twirling taunt and just backhand dismiss it. ***/ spoiler end***

Long story short, the movie promote authenticity through cinematography and authentic locations everything else is heavy-handed and fake as sh*t.

Bonus round: also, in real life:
* Glass did get attacked by a bear
* His hunting party left two guy to bury him after he died
* They left him for dead in a shallow grave
* He didn't have a son so they couldn't kill it
* Glass forgave those that abandoned him
* It all happened in summer

-work in progress- might complete/tidy up later… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

Aloxb3Jul 3, 2017

De um ponto de vista técnico, "O Regresso" é muito bom. A maioria das cenas foram filmadas apenas com a luz natural, a angustia de ver o personagem do DiCaprio rastejando por duas horas acaba gerando, ao telespectador uma certa revolta contraDe um ponto de vista técnico, "O Regresso" é muito bom. A maioria das cenas foram filmadas apenas com a luz natural, a angustia de ver o personagem do DiCaprio rastejando por duas horas acaba gerando, ao telespectador uma certa revolta contra o "vilão", há uma boa interpretação de todos do elenco e as cenas são feitas de uma perspectiva bem interessantes mas...Do que se trata esse filme? Vingança? Morte? Traição? Sinceramente:Não sei! Não é um filme que tenha um significado, não passa nem perto de ser profundo ou passar uma mensagem, enfim, quem gosta de aspectos técnicos de Direção e Fotografia de Cinema provavelmente irá adorar esse filme, no entanto, há uma grande probabilidade de depois de duas horas de filme, os créditos começarem a subir e você perguntar pra alguém do seu lado: Acabou? e a pessoa te responder:Acho que sim.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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6

mahdimeshkateeMar 23, 2020

dont get me wrong, this is definitely a movie to watch, and dicaprio plays extraordinary as always and the cinematography is revolutionary. but its the screenplay and the whole story that seems irrelevant to such brilliant acting and cinematography.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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5

gfnyJan 18, 2016

The film was shot in Alberta Canada and the scenery is beautiful. It is well acted and well directed. That being said, it is 2 ½ hours of imaginable brutality and suffering to the point of boredom. The storyline is weak and there shouldThe film was shot in Alberta Canada and the scenery is beautiful. It is well acted and well directed. That being said, it is 2 ½ hours of imaginable brutality and suffering to the point of boredom. The storyline is weak and there should have been more information upfront about who, what, when, where, and why to set up what the film was about. That would have given it a point of focus and make it easier to understand and endure. It was a disappointing experience . . .… Expand

5 of 8 users found this helpful53

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5

EdeltraudJan 12, 2016

If Christian Bale had made this movie he would've dropped 50 pounds to play the role that Leo DiCaprio took on. That's just one of the suspension of belief issues that cropped up in The Revenant. I did enjoy the movie, I love outdoorIf Christian Bale had made this movie he would've dropped 50 pounds to play the role that Leo DiCaprio took on. That's just one of the suspension of belief issues that cropped up in The Revenant. I did enjoy the movie, I love outdoor adventures, but so many technical issues cropped up, it became laughable after a while.
Not to mention, the director added a good 30-45 minutes of "preciousness" with a lingering camera on a bloody patch of snow. (Nevermind the gory, gory, and gorier porno stuff. Really,close ups of nasty consumption of raw whatevers? Not necessary!)
Without spoilers, but with cues that those who've seen the movie will get, here are the fact-based, technical issues:
A bear mauling might not kill you but the encounters with cold definitely would do you in -- especially some of the dunkings, right?
A starving indigenous person waiting around in a camp for a white guy to deliver a sandwich? HUH? This person knows how to track, hunt, survive etc.without a Subway delivery.
When you rip the entrails out of a freshly killed animal when the weather is cold, there's a lot steam. (This was a big miss on the part of the director.)
No one builds a 700 pound litter to haul a guy out of the woods. Ridiculous.
How many men do you send out on a posse to catch a bad guy? One guy & an invalid? I never saw a posse that wasn't 5, 6, or 7 guys.
You get the idea ... interesting concept, nice to have drama without a lot of technology, but so many cliches, poor outdoorsmanship and waaaay too long.… Expand

6 of 9 users found this helpful63

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5

NedRyerson1Jan 25, 2016

The Revenant is the second movie of Inarritu’s new groove, nothing like his previous films. As in Birdman, here he experiments with shooting and cinematography; which are one of the few things that goes well in this picture. The camera isThe Revenant is the second movie of Inarritu’s new groove, nothing like his previous films. As in Birdman, here he experiments with shooting and cinematography; which are one of the few things that goes well in this picture. The camera is placed precisely in the moment of both psychological and physical stress, the director chooses it at ground level and with close up to tired faces, suffering eyes, dirty hands and demolishing wounds; in order to reflect the Greek tragedy that faces the protagonist. The thing is that it does not go any further than that. There is no plot whatsoever, the script is poor, the soundtrack not outstanding and the outcome is simple and very predictable, making these 156 minutes a fight for survival, not only for the protagonist, but also for the viewer. It’s important to mention that DiCaprio’s performance is OK, nothing special, if he is awarded is just because the Academy has a debt with him. On the other hand, Hardy is really the one people should be cheering, amazing performance, no critiques. So in summary, lazy movie, probably the worst work of Inarritu.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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5

smasherwolfFeb 3, 2016

The scenery was great and beautiful. It makes you go "wow" a lot during the movie. The camera angles were good too, being a lot different than the angles we see in nowadays movies.
And that was the good part. The rest of the movie i did notThe scenery was great and beautiful. It makes you go "wow" a lot during the movie. The camera angles were good too, being a lot different than the angles we see in nowadays movies.
And that was the good part. The rest of the movie i did not like it AT ALL.

The movie is INSANELY long with a lot of pointless scenes that could have easily cut out. Since the story is simple and goes very slowly, along with DiCaprio's grunting for 2/3 of the movie, you lose interest quickly. A huge disappointment.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

menthysFeb 6, 2016

The only merit of this movie is its artistic side, the photography, the direction, but a movie needs A SCRIPT. It needs a freaking SOUL. We live in 2016. This is as simplistic a revenge story as it goes. Leonardo DiCaprio's character, in hisThe only merit of this movie is its artistic side, the photography, the direction, but a movie needs A SCRIPT. It needs a freaking SOUL. We live in 2016. This is as simplistic a revenge story as it goes. Leonardo DiCaprio's character, in his rightful rage, spends over 90% of his screen time grunting and moaning in pain. All those things that could have made this movie wonderful, like e.g. a TRUE focus on his family's past, are introduced just to be introduced and then thrown down the drain.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

ahnehnoisJan 28, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The technical achievements are impressive. The gorgeous cinematography and a hardcore central performance cannot be denied. But the film is dragged down by two problems.

The first, somewhat unavoidable, is that there aren't enough surprises. You pretty much go in knowing that the guy is getting mauled by a bear and going through a harrowing journey of survivalism. The movie would have played much better if one went in for a story about early America without knowing this, but of course, most people who even passingly read news had already heard the story, and the promotional material gave away a lot.

The second, worse, and far more avoidable problem is that the writing is far more lost than Hugh Glass ever was. The story has been embellished, Hollywood-ized, and the entire point of it has been changed. Where the true story is morally ambiguous, the movie invents a son that his teammate pointlessly murders, all of which is completely unnecessary. Silly dream sequences detract from the main character's perspective. Entire Native American storylines have been added to pad the runtime, where it would be better to make another movie separately about them. A silly and gratuitous rape was added, and a rescue invented where none really happened. And perhaps most importantly, where the real man let the people who left him behind live, this movie degenerates into a Quentin Tarantino revenge flick.

All of this serves to take a nuanced story about real people in tough circumstances and impose modern moral values and politics over it in an effort to create a more palatable narrative. This movie did not need good guys and bad guys, but yet they were manufactured anyway. Take the same skill in production and stick to the real story and you've potentially got a great movie. As it is, you've got one that looks nice, but frustratingly insults the audience's intelligence.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

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5

ProsmoothJan 5, 2016

While I certainly admired it (greatly, oh so greatly) on a technical level--I just can't quite recommend it unless you're a film geek who wants to admire a director and cinematographer shooting a film using only natural light sources. ThatWhile I certainly admired it (greatly, oh so greatly) on a technical level--I just can't quite recommend it unless you're a film geek who wants to admire a director and cinematographer shooting a film using only natural light sources. That must have been a nightmare to pull off. On a screenplay level, this film just doesn't work. Sitting through this slog made me long for the fun filled times of Schindler's List. Oy vey. Leo will probably get an Oscar nod for being miserable for 2 hours. He should share it with everyone who sits through the entire exhausting thing. 5/10… Expand

7 of 14 users found this helpful77

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5

Doktor_Vehicl3Jan 11, 2016

A mixed bag. Though The Revenant is an exceptionally well presented visual showpiece, it is also entirely nonsensical, ham-fistedly delivering its narrative, which like its protagonist's quest, is entirely devoid of any deep significance whenA mixed bag. Though The Revenant is an exceptionally well presented visual showpiece, it is also entirely nonsensical, ham-fistedly delivering its narrative, which like its protagonist's quest, is entirely devoid of any deep significance when it's through. This is mostly due to a disconnect in logical proceedings, which wouldn't be too big a deal if the film wasn't attempting a realistic portrayal of the world. From the moment of the bear attack all suspension of disbelief is totally gone, leaving you only to shake your head as Glass survives countless fatal situations, and crosses roads with so many people important to plots surrounding him purely by coincidence. Oh, it's because he's the best tracker that side of the country, now it all makes sense -- except for the part where he's been shredded to ribbons by a bear with only wet clothes on his back and in the forty below nights of the frontier. While the visuals and soundtrack accompanying the dream sequences were some of the highlights of the movie, I felt they became a bit heavy handed, adding different visual themes without any real substance. Some leaps in logic cast doubt over the final events of the movie, which really sticks out over whatever symbolism the filmmakers were trying to achieve with those scenes. Without spoiling anything, I will say that the climax of the film is well executed, which is good since it was the only really big payoff to look forward to. As good as it looks, it's never as immersive or as symbolic as it wants to be with its cliched and nonsensical plot, as well as few noteworthy performances. Special commendations go to Tom Hardy, who excellently portrays the only well established character in the entire film. His character is the only one I found to have inspired any curiosity, and that's a shame since he's the villain. Some great visuals aside, it's a miserable experience that strains your senses (particularly your ability to hear what characters are saying - my experience seemed to have a very poor sound mix with muffled, mumbling voices).… Expand

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

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5

nj06Jan 24, 2016

Fine acting, fine landscapes, nice costumes and sets, but a very thin and an extremely slow moving story. The movie length could have easily been cut by half and it would still move at a slow pace. If you are not a connoisseur ofFine acting, fine landscapes, nice costumes and sets, but a very thin and an extremely slow moving story. The movie length could have easily been cut by half and it would still move at a slow pace. If you are not a connoisseur of cinematography and vistas or of triage of wounds, you will be bored, and that is a guarantee. The ending fight scene is full of cliches seen hundreds of times in other movies. Solid, but not spectacular, work by DiCaprio. He will get his Oscar this year, mainly because of amazing work in his previous movies.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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5

Robbor1Dec 28, 2015

The first hour IS good,they still haven't mastered slower movement with animals with cgi though(Bear Attack),Caprio shouldn't be nominated for acting here because there is very little oppurtunities,he moan's & groan's,pull's faces and get'sThe first hour IS good,they still haven't mastered slower movement with animals with cgi though(Bear Attack),Caprio shouldn't be nominated for acting here because there is very little oppurtunities,he moan's & groan's,pull's faces and get's turned over every now and then and crawl's, but should get an award for putting his body through it,great cinema-photography though but wy too long....zzz… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

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5

OsamamahJan 2, 2016

The movie filmed well! The cinematography was breathtaking, And the story message is good ( that revenge makes you stronger and whatsoever) but the plot was so bad, it was really boring and some sense there was nothing to watch! the movieThe movie filmed well! The cinematography was breathtaking, And the story message is good ( that revenge makes you stronger and whatsoever) but the plot was so bad, it was really boring and some sense there was nothing to watch! the movie it's just too long with no reason.. Feel like it was only to show off Leonardo di caprio for trying to win the Oscar! Loved Tom hardy though he was dope! Overall they just needed a good screenplay!… Expand

5 of 9 users found this helpful54

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5

Judge_ReddFeb 8, 2016

Color me unimpressed. The production value behind this film was its strong suit, with some beautiful cinematics, lighting, and a very apt soundtrack. That said, I frequently wondered how individual scenes, and subsequently the film as aColor me unimpressed. The production value behind this film was its strong suit, with some beautiful cinematics, lighting, and a very apt soundtrack. That said, I frequently wondered how individual scenes, and subsequently the film as a whole, would have benefitted from a different director. The acting between the leads, particularly DiCaprio, was distractingly bad at points, bordering on comical, and the plot was poorly executed.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

City8grlJan 22, 2016

Entertaining and visually interesting.However, when making a movie about survival in nature it would be prudent to consult with a survivalist and/or a naturalist.I was quite distracted by the unrealistic portrayal of the events and theEntertaining and visually interesting.However, when making a movie about survival in nature it would be prudent to consult with a survivalist and/or a naturalist.I was quite distracted by the unrealistic portrayal of the events and the scenery. You have people walking in valleys,forests,on rocky mountaintops in winter,in no particular meaningful order, let alone with no realistic timeline for anyone to have covered that much ground or altitude.Foothills,plains and high rocky mountain terrain all look really nice but it makes no sense. At one point you even have people walking in a rainforest type biome that in no way corresponds to the others(environments both on east and west side of the Rocky Mountains).Most of the scenes,supposedly in the remote wilderness, have disturbed/trampled snow all around. There are many scenes of people tramping around in the water and then presumably surviving outside,with no shelter in wet clothes? Ten minutes in cold water and muscle function is lost so the scene where the protagonist floats down the river in winter and then sleeps on the bank when he crawls out is just ridiculous.The seeming ignorance around portraying the events in a somewhat realistic manner detracts from this movie greatly for me.… Expand

9 of 12 users found this helpful93

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The Revenant

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