The Revenant (2015)

Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter 
Runtime: 156 minutes

Synopsis: A frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team.

Performances: 10/10
Screenplay: 8/10
Editing: 8/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Score/Soundtrack: 8/10

Verdict: Alejandro G. Iñárritu is a perfectionist and a master at what he does. "The Revenant", which he remarkably managed to release only a year after "Birdman", is further proof that he's one of the most exciting directors working right now.

Doomed to only be remembered as the movie that won Leo his first Oscar for his role as Hugh Glass, a real historical figure whose story is one that deserves to be experienced on the largest screen possible, "The Revenant" is much, much more than just an acting tour de force by not only DiCaprio, but also Tom Hardy, Will Poulter, and Domhnall Gleeson. It's also a tale of man against nature, a story of survival and revenge that will make you feel every emotion that Glass goes through, from anger to coldness to satisfaction. Iñárritu, alongside his long time collaborator Emmanuel Lubezki and to the dismay of the entire cast, opted to capture the authenticity of the setting by shooting the entire film on location, using natural light and the bare minimum of CGI. The shoot was harsh, but the result absolutely worth it. "The Revenant" is one of the most beautiful looking films I've seen in the past decade. Lubezki's signature long takes, mixed with the gorgeous Argentinian landscape, truly treat the eye to a scenery only a few can capture on camera.

"The Revenant" is a two and a half hour long slow burn in which, I'm not going to lie, the pacing can be challenging at times. But if that's not something that usually holds you back, then I cannot recommend it enough. It's one of the most intense survival stories ever told, and a cinematic experience that I guarantee will leave an impact on every single movie lover out there.

FINAL GRADE: 9/10