Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter, Forrest Goodluck
Director: Alejandro G. Inarritu
Genre: Drama
Duration: 156 minutes
Now showing: Cinema Magic Metroplex Mall Naalya and Century Cinemax Acacia Mall Kisementi
Will this be the movie that finally gets Leo an Oscar? This is the question on most movie fans’ minds. Away from Leo though, The Revenant claims the most popular seat at the Oscars for now, with 12 nominations in 12 categories. So the general consensus is that it is a good movie, in fact almost every critic has described it as thrilling. I’ll get back to that later.
The Revenant tells the story of Hugh Glass (DiCaprio), a bear hunter – for the fur, on a mission for revenge. He gets onto this mission when the hunting group he was with leaves him behind. The decision to leave him behind happens after a bear attacks Glass, leaving him almost for dead. Group leader, Andrew Henry (Gleeson) offers a reward for some men to stay behind with Glass, and give him a proper burial. John Fitzgerald (Hardy), who had earlier suggested that Glass be put to death volunteers and stays behind.
It goes without saying that he tries to kill Glass instead, immediately the rest of the group leaves him. To avoid spoilers, let’s just say Fitzgerald leaves Glass behind, safe in the knowledge that he is dead. The rest of the movie is Glass eating roots, trudging through snow, sleeping in animal carcasses, and saving a young woman from rape, all on his way to find Fitzgerald and serve his revenge. Intense stuff.
As far as cinema or theatre is concerned, The Revenant definitely hits all the points – exceptional acting from Leo and Hardy, good direction, and the sound, boy will the sound get you! It wouldn’t be up for the Oscars if that was not the case.
However, the movie, like most movies with unexplainable violence, was not a comfortable watch. Movies usually allow me to escape the troubles of the world. The Revenant just reminded me of how violent and vengeful we can be. But hey, we do not judge movies by their morals anymore, do we?