LEONARDO DiCaprio (“The Wolf of Wall Street”) gives an Oscar-winning performance of an American frontiersman in the early 1820’s and his tale of survival and revenge.
Taking place in the Dakota Mountains, but filmed in the unforgiving outback of Northwestern Montana, “The Revenant” tells the true story of Hugh Glass (DiCaprio), hunter and wilderness guide during the winter of 1823 to a group of fur trappers who are, in the film’s outset, ambushed by the Arikara Native Americas.
The attack (coming in the film’s first 10 minutes) is exquisitely filmed by Mexican director and Oscar-winner Alejandro González Iñárritu (“Birdman”).
The trappers are overwhelmed and only a handful, including Glass, make it to relative safety in a nearby boat. The unfortunate are slaughtered. Glass, an expert tracker, begins the group’s return to far away Fort Kiowa. The decision by Glass to lead the remaining trappers on foot instead of following the swift-moving rivers downstream is taken particularly hard on one of the surviving trappers, John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) who thinks otherwise. Glass’s choice is a wise one as a remnant of the Arikara party is already waiting for them.
As the trappers sleep, Glass scouting in front and comes upon three small bear cubs with “Mama” close behind. Glass is ambushed by the female grizzly bear and is savagely mauled to near death. This scene is particularly disturbing for its earthy, passionate primitive attack, leaving DiCaprio’s Glass near death.
The remaining trappers, fearing the loss of their only guide, cobble together a make-shift bed and carry the remains of the comatose Glass through the wilderness, only to be stopped by a sheer vertical mountain face. Leaving Glass behind with Fitzgerald and another volunteer with specific instructions to tend to the ailing Glass until help can arrive, the trappers move along and eventually react the safety of the fort.
Quarreling that Glass will not survive his injuries, Fitzgerald leaves him for dead and eventually reaches the frontier fortress.
Digging himself out of a shallow grave, Glass, his legs shattered and useless from the bear attack, then drags himself downriver and the harrowing journey that follows. Wow!
“The Revenant” is a significant body of work and clocking in at two and a half hours, you certainly get your money’s worth. Anyone who has traveled to the unforgiving territory of Montana during any winter season will know that Glass’ chances of survival is slim to none.
None just left town.
DiCaprio’s performance is certainly amazing and will most likely grant him the Oscar he has so long cherished, but the true “Best Performance” is Hardy as the ruthless Fitzgerald, one of the most cold hearted, merciless and horrible creatures placed on celluloid.
His abandonment of Glass is terrible enough, but the betrayal and acceptance of blood money for Glass’ apparent murder is even more compelling.
Glass’s revenge is riveting as is the impeccable directing of multiple Oscar-winner Iñárritu (Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Directing, and Best Original Screenplay for “Birdman”).
The penetrating gaze of DiCaprio in the film’s closing will send shivers down your spine.
Kudos to the entire film crew for its realism as filming in Montana in the dead of winter is no easy task and the story of Hugh Glass is one that will be long remembered as the most courageous example of the tenacity of the human will to live.
Questions, comments or travel suggestions, write me at theruffolos@readingruffolo.com