We can appreciate what Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Birdman) went after with his latest effort, The Revenant. The Oscar winning film has come home on DVD and Blu-Ray and besides being known as the film that finally got Leonardo DiCaprio his first Best Actor trophy and cinematographer Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki his third Oscar in a row for his work, it will forever be known by The Movie Mensch as one of the most overrated and beautifully boring movies of the last several years.
The Revenant is a muddled mess that finds its protagonist seeking revenge for being left for dead after a bear attack and the murder of his son. Yet, by the time the revenge is set into play, the movie should have been over. As a viewer, we reach that point and think, “Are you kidding? We still have to get retribution?” That is never a good sign for a movie that is about vengeance above all else.
DiCaprio stars as explorer/tracker Hugh Glass, who is part of an expedition team that is out securing expensive pelts for a big payday. Among the folks in this group is Tom Hardy’s John Fitzgerald, a man who sees keeping Glass alive after his bear attack as not only costing them money in pelts that could be brought to market, but also puts their lives at risks as they are in the throws of winter and the chances of escaping its wrath dwindle by the day. What’s a guy to do? Well, Fitzgerald kills Glass’ son and buries Glass alive and with Will Poulter’s Bridger, they head into the wilderness to find their fort and security and the many things that that means.
No question, The Revenant is gorgeous, and that is its best selling point. The Movie Mensch does not begrudge that Oscar for Best Cinematography, there is no question that is deserved. It is just that although DiCaprio is great, he is certainly not the best actor of 2015. And this film shouldn’t even have been nominated for Best Picture and Best Director, for which it also won!
For deeper thoughts on the film itself and its faults, check out our theatrical The Revenant review.
When it comes to bonus features, considering all that went into this supposedly tough shoot that was rough on everyone involved, there is very little to show exactly how difficult and challenging the outside shoot that only used natural light for stunning effect.
The only featurette included (there isn’t even a director’s commentary, which would have been a no-brainer addition in our minds, given that the film won Best Director at the Oscars) is A World Unseen – A Documentary of The Revenant.
We do have to say, that this documentary is actually better than the film itself – but it is hardly new. It was released on YouTube earlier this year. The 44-minute doc takes viewers behind the scenes and actually does more in terms of informing how these characters lived in the 18th century rather than the making of the film itself. There are some great interviews with DiCaprio and how he delved deeper into the time period, as well as Iñárritu, Hardy and others on the crew that help paint a picture of what it was like to capture life during this tough time that consumed lives and yet also laid the foundation for the building of a nation.
Also featured is a slightly less interesting Gallery, which features stills from the making of the film, as well as shots from the film that showcase its stunning beauty and further illustrate why the film won that Best Cinematography Oscar.
Film: B-
Bonus Features: B