Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter, Domhnall Gleeson, and Lukas Haas
Release date: January 8, 2015
Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Moviegoers were able to ring in the New Year with the highly anticipated film, The Revenant. Leonardo DiCaprio delivers another amazing performance in this movie as the legendary frontiersman and fur trapper, Hugh Glass. Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu uses the movie as the backdrop of the true and heroic tales of Hugh Glass and his survival of a gruesome grizzly bear attack.
The film takes place during 1862 in the uncharted, frozen wilderness of North America. Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his colleagues are on a hunting expedition to gather beaver pelts for trade when they are attacked by a group of Arikara, the hostile Natives of the area. The attack scatters the men as they fight back but to no avail which leaves a large number of their group dead. The leader of the group, Andrew Henry (Domhnall Gleeson) suggests the men keep moving forward. Glass goes ahead of the group a few yards when he stumbles upon a mother grizzly bear and her cubs.
The bear slashes at his back and chest, crushing his ribs and breaking his leg. The group of fur trappers hear the attack and rush to his side but it is already too late. The men make use of crafty patch work, stitching up his wounds as best as they could however they did not expect him to make it through the night. Glass’ injuries are severe and the makeshift stretcher they use to carry him is slowing the group down. John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy), a selfish and older trapper, suggests the men put Glass out of his misery as he is growing cold and dying. Henry agrees but is unable to go forward with it, so he decides the rest of the group must move on but pays Jim Bridger (Will Poulter), a younger hunter and Hawk (Forrest Goodluck), Glass’ son, to stay behind with him until he passes.
Henry ups the offer a bit more which prompts Fitzgerald to stay behind with the two young men. Henry makes them promise to give him a proper burial if he doesn’t survive the night. While Fitzgerald is alone with Glass, he taunts him and even coaxes him to die. Glass lies motionless, his wounds have left him conscious but barely breathing and unable to speak. Fitzgerald hears Glass’ inaudible voice and makes a deal with Glass. All he has to do is blink and Fitzgerald will kill him. Glass eventually is forced to blink and Fitzgerald tries to smother him,but Hawk comes back in enough time to find Fitzgerald trying to kill his father and yells for help. Fitzgerald then turns toward the boy and tries to get him to stop yelling only to stab Hawk in the stomach, killing him. Glass lies there, staring in horror and anger as Fitzgerald kills his son. Glass moans and grimaces as Fitzgerald convinces the younger Jim Bridger that there are a group of Arikara near the river and that they have to leave. Bridger is hesitant to leave with Glass in his condition and unsure of where Hawk went. Fitzgerald tells them that they have to leave now or risk being caught by the Natives. They gather what they have and leave Glass lying motionless on the stretcher, riddled with anger.
The movie is extraordinarily captivating and will leave audiences breathless. Inarritu has created a beautifully interesting tale of bravery and revenge and this movie does not skimp out on the action. The cinematography is visually stunning and captures the danger hidden within the stillness of the frozen landscapes. This movie was amazing in theatres and is a definite must see. The Revenant receives 10 stars out of 10 stars.