The movie features the immense mental and physical torture endured by the lead character – a frontier leader of a fur trading expedition, played by Leonardo Di Caprio.
Hugh Glass (Di Caprio) is attacked by a bear in the wilderness, and left for dead, until he is rescued by his team. However when his injured body becomes too much to be transported over the unforgiving wilderness, three stay behind with him, Fitzgerald, (Tom Hardy) and two boys, one of which is Glass’s son.
Murder takes place, and Glass is left on a stretcher to survive the elements and the wilderness. What takes place afterwards is a survival mission with a difference.
Seeing this story on the big screen is the only way to go, because of the mountains, the forest, and the waters of the wild.
At the beginning of the film, it becomes hard to study the plot, because of the different dialects used by the actors. Their accents could have done with a bit of work. But that’s a minor glitch, because the use of subtitles worked well.
Watch out for a winter snow scene involving the lead character with a horse!
Di Caprio should take the Oscar, with Tom Hardy as Fitzgerald in line for Best Supporting Actor. However Hardy will have tough competition from Sylvester Stallone for ‘Creed’.
‘The Revenant’ is a movie about the early days of America, which should help it get the Best Picture Oscar. It has already done so at the Golden Globes, where Di Caprio also took his award.
‘The Revenant’ could be called an escapism movie, but it’s not ‘Grizzly Adams’ so it’s not for the faint-hearted. However the story is honest, and portrayed in a believable way. Apparently it’s loosely based on a true story.
Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson needs also to be mentioned as Capt. Henry. It’s another fine performance from the young Gleeson, following on from his role in ‘Brooklyn’ and the new Star Wars movie.
