Writer: Naseem Randhawa

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Watch this if you liked: "There Will Be Blood", "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly".

The Good, The Bad and The Give DiCaprio an Oscar already!:

An astonishing visual masterpiece of cinematography work, "The Revenant" exudes the quality of Oscar classics such as, "There Will Be Blood" and "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly".

Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu collaborates with cinematographer Emmanuel Lubeki once again, delivering an arresting motion picture which like their previous Oscar winning work, "Birdman", utilises extremely long continuous yet meticulously detailed shots to give gravitas to the harsh conditions and perilous situation our lead, fur trapper, Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) has to go through. One particular shot takes place just moments after the start of the film. Sweeping panoramic shots unflinchingly captures the ensuing chaos when Native Indians come to attack the fur trappers as a violent battle between guns and arrows take place.

Although early reports on "The Revenant" generated that infamous click-bait articles of DiCaprio's character getting "raped" by a bear when he's actually just horribly mauled, that's just one of the few violent things that befalls Glass, as what awaits him is so much more which will leave audiences holding their breaths.

Set in the snow covered Louisiana Purchase wilderness in 1820s, Glass, his teenage son and his fellow fur trapper group are out on a job, until they get attacked by Native Indians who are one of the many things Glass has to worry about. It's not until he ventures off alone in the forest that he's mauled within an inch of his life by a bear. Eventually found by his group and incapable of speech and psychical movement, the two trappers entrusted to bring him back to safety Jim Bridger (Will Poulter) and Tom Hardy (John Fitzgerald) soon abandon him to die. Fueled by his rage for revenge, Glass literally claws and drags his way through the unforgiving landscape for the sake of his single-purposed survival.

Although DiCaprio's acting performance is made up of 60 percent of him getting his ass kicked by nature and 40 percent of him grunting in pain, the heart stopping depths to what DiCaprio goes through all for the sake of his role; like jumping in and out of frozen rivers and eating a real blood-soaked bison liver, just adds on another layer of what a great actor he really is. We all know DiCaprio can act, but physically, it seems like he had something to proof in terms of how far he was willing to suffer for his role, and boy does he proof he is one to literally suffer for his art!

Another great performance that's worthy of an Oscar nod is Tom Hardy's antagonist role, Fitzgerald. Hardly recognisable with his horrible comb over, a gaunt look and a thick southern accent, Hardy gives such a spectacular performance that it's impossible not to; just like Glass; seethe in anger that's directed towards him.

"The Revenant" guarantees great acting performances from Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy, and the full on sensory experience thanks to the brilliant cinematography work which creates an immersive tale of survival that will leave one breathless.

Cinema Online, 07 January 2016