THE REVENANT

Directed by …. Alejandro González Iñárritu
Screenplay … Mark L. Smith & Alejandro González Iñárritu
(novel by) … Michael Punke
Cinematography by …. Emmanuel Lubezki

Runtime … 156 minutes
Color Aspect Ratio 2.35 : 1
Camera Arri Alexa 65, Hasselblad Prime 65 Lenses
Arri Alexa XT M, Panavision Primo, C-Series, Leica Summilux-C and Zeiss Master Prime Lenses
Arri Alexa XT, Panavision Primo, C-Series, Leica Summilux-C and Zeiss Master Prime Lenses

 

Cast:
Leonardo DiCaprio … Hugh Glass
Tom Hardy … John Fitzgerald
Domhnall Gleeson … Captain Andrew Henry
Will Poulter … Bridger
Forrest Goodluck … Hawk
Paul Anderson … Anderson
Kristoffer Joner … Murphy
Joshua Burge … Stubby Bill
Melaw Nakehk’o … Powaqa
Fabrice Adde … Toussaint
Arthur RedCloud … Hikuc
Grace Dove … Hugh Glass’ Wife

This film is very loosely based on the true life story explorer and fur trapper, Hugh Glass, who, after being brutally attacked by a grizzly, is left for dead by members of his group, fights against all odds to survive and return to camp. The true story is one of will-power,Iñárritu adds to the plot a tale of revenge; since the actions of John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy)were not an innocent mistake, but cold blooded murder and greed.

THE REVENANT immerses us into American wilderness of the 1820s, a world where competing tribes, do battle against each other as well as the european settlers. The extreme climate, and wild animals, conspire to create a place so harsh that the smallest mistake can cost you your life.

(Leonardo DiCaprio) as Hugh Glass turns in a powerful performance despite having relatively few line of dialogue, and of those, many are not in English, but spoken in two different native American languages. This is not a film that depends of Sorkinesque fast lines, the emotional needs and wants of the characters are so basic as to transcend spoken language- objectives are clear.

This entire film was shot in harsh conditions, using ONLY available light. This resulted in a screen filled with startlingly beautiful photography, and raises the question, “Can Emmanuel Lubezki win the Academy award of Cinematography three years in a row? While Deakins, his most likely competitor, did a brilliant job with Sicario and it’s palette of faded tans and pinks, the natural beauty of the world Lubezki had, plus the luxury, of at times, filming just during the “Magic hours of dusk and dawn, give The Revenant a clear edge. the use of the new Arri Alexa 65, and Hasselblad Prime 65 Lenses, literally does for cinematography what medium-format cameras do for photography. The size of the film, or in this case the sensor, capture a level of clarity beyond the range of a 33mm camera.

This film, is powerful, yet at times dark and hard to watch, but it is held together by a riveting performance by DiCaprio. THE REVENANT is well worth adding to your list, even though you might need a few minutes to catch your breath after leaving the theater.