The Revenant (2015)
Revenge can be chillingly beautiful.
Presentation:
With how beautifully contemporary The Revenant looks, you might not expect this to be a western on its surface. With the ultra wide cinematography from Emmanuel Lubezki, Iñnaritu managers to nearly turn the classic western into an art house revenge film. DiCaprio finally pulls off an Oscar win, making you feel every ounce of pain crawling through this Native American landscape. In typical Lubezki fashion, we have clean handheld closeup, low-angled ultra wide shots in beautiful natural light. The viscerality of getting so close and personal to the characters reminds me of a Wong Kar Wai film, except in pristine 4K. The intimacy makes you feel just as cold, but unfortunately the story might feel the same way.
Conclusion:
As usual from the Mexican duo, the artistic framing is immaculate with perhaps one of the best showcases for ultra wide cinematography. The revenge plot is simple though there are some sequences that are noteworthy including the animal scenes. Tom Hardy manages the steal the spotlight and has a strong presence even when he’s not on screen. Although I enjoyed the points of conflict, it can definitely feel predictable and one-dimensional. A visual stunner, this is unlike any other western and the beautifully vast snowy alps will be unforgettable.
Recommendations
Love, depravity, and humanity.