***NERD***
@Steph_Panisello
The Revenant, directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu (Birdman, Beautiful), starring Leonardo DiCaprio (The Departed) as Hugh Glass and Tom Hardy (Mad Max: Fury Road) as John Fitzgerald is a film masterpiece on every level. The story is visually and emotionally immersive, through Emmanuel Lubezki‘s stunning cinematography. Lubezki’s a film pioneer and it’s evident through his ability to capture moments with fluid camera movements that lead the eye through the action. He insisted on using only natural light and a wide-angle lens, which allows for the viewer to experience the action coming from all positions (ie. within the foreground, background and, in some cases, 360 degree sweeping views). The use of natural light also captures the films importance of daylight and fire for survival from the elements in the 1820’s.
Although the blood and gore is to the level of a Tarintino film, the struggle fight choreography was done realistically, never making you feel like anything was excessive. The marriage between the cinematography and the fighting is beautifully done; almost so perfect, that you wonder how close and personal the camera really is when blood splatters the lens. Inarritu wanted to make the film as realistic as possible, therefore the little CGI that’s used is done seamlessly and deserves praise for being some of the best — leaving us confused as to what is and isn’t real. Lastly, the acting and writing is brilliant. Without the need for heavy dialogue, they used silence to heighten the tension between characters and the elemental challenges at hand. DiCaprio and Hardy should both be recognized as giving some of their best performances to date. Maybe Leo will finally win that Oscar….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drMcGCTm55s
***GEEK***
@whizbang813
I’ll have to agree, for the most part, with Lady Croft’s assessment of Inarritu’s The Revenant. The film takes place during the 1820s and centers on the trials and tribulations about pelt-trading in North America and the endurance of one father’s struggle for the ultimate of victories.
Saying anymore would venture into spoiler territory.
Lubezki (Gravity, Birdman) delivers yet again with beautiful cinematography and sequences that dazzle the eye–but never take away from the moment to moment visceral action that takes place. DiCaprio delivers his best performance yet in The Revenant and makes the cut on his hand in Django: Unchained look like child’s play. The Revenant is a contender for Best Picture for being as real as filmmaking can get and Alejandro knocks it out of the park once again. 4.5/5 Bibles.
20th Century Fox’s The Revenant sleigh rides into theaters this Christmas.