MOVIE CRITIQUE

-THE REVENANT

MERAJ SULTANA

18171AA040

VIII SEM-A
The Revenant is a 2015 American adventure drama
film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. The movie features
Leonardo DiCaprio as Hugh Glass, a respected guide and fur
trapper who leads a group of trappers, which includes Tom
Hardy, into Indian Territory to bring home their annual pelts.
It’s the American frontier, and conditions are rough. Hugh
Glass, a legendary frontiersman, is severely injured in a bear
attack and is abandoned by his hunting crew. He uses his skills
to survive and take revenge on his companion who betrayed
him.
The movie is known for its brilliant cinematography. It has
received many awards including, three Golden Globe Awards,
five BAFTA Awards, and three Academy Awards for Best
Actor Best Director and Best Cinematography.
Leonardo DiCaprio, as Hugh Glass did a phenomenal job, his
portrayal of the character pulls audience deep into the story. For
his flawless acting, direction and cinematography, the movie
received a lot of praise. Glass's struggle in the forest and
mountains, his drive for revenge, his relationship with his son,
was showcased brilliantly with deep and meaningful
perspectives for the audience. The characters in the movie are so
emotionally driven that the camera needed to be an emotional
extension of them. The director and the cinematographer used
wide lenses which exaggerates the movement, so the camera
moves slow and exact. Shooting with the wide lenses shows an
interesting perspective and makes you feel you’re part of the
character. Also, the most important elements of this movie
include shooting in story order and use of natural lights. The
camera allowed for the characters to be isolated in their own
thoughts. The same effect was created when the Pawnee boy
was crying next to the campfire after Glass had scolded him.
The audience has a glimpse into the son’s mind. We knew he
was crying because he felt alone. This sense of loneliness came
from the depth on how Glass was out of focus in the
background, while his son was in focus in the front.
The use of natural light, mountains, rivers, forest and snow can
immerse the audience completely into the movie. The movie
was shot with minimum cuts and many one-shot scenes that it
provided the scenic and picturesque view one might never
forget. The overall objective of the camera work was to become
an intimate extension of the character. Emotions were
represented literally with camera movements. For instance,
when Fitzgerald, Tom Hardy’s character, was walking around
drunk, the camera tracked beside him drunkenly. When
Fitzgerald and Glass were tumbling around while fighting, the
camera squirmed and turned on the ground with them.
Over all, the movie is a masterpiece. It will be appreciated and
applauded for decades to come.