Words//Gemma Ross
Twitter//@fooals
Twitter//@fooals
THE REVENANT: ★★★★★★★★★½ (9.5/10)
Starring - Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, and Will Poulter
As part of my new weekly independent/arts film series, I took a trip down to the Arts Picturehouse in Cambridge to catch a screening of THE REVENANT. But Gemma, is it really an independent film? I hear you ask. Well technically no, but it's certainly an arty film...so let's just pretend that it is.
'Jesus Christ, Leo is looking a bit old' I sit thinking, sipping my overpriced coke. I'm amongst a middle-aged audience who really don't look like they came to have a good time. Instantly, I'm struck by the most mesmerizing opening scene in all of film existence, you're quite literally taken IN to the film, following that A-Lister cast with one free flowing camera. I look around to see 40 different faces now glued to the screen, everyone in awe of what looks to be Alejandro González Iñárritu's new masterpiece. DiCaprio is finally playing an uncommon and foreign (literally) role to him, and I notice straight away that his accent is a little comic. Switching between a Southern and Western accent isn't going to help you win that Oscar, Leo. Aside from that little flaw, everything seems perfect: the choreography of camera-work, the lavish landscaping and of course, that insanely fitting soundtrack amidst the whole thing. It feels as though you're completely immersed in everything, and I can't even begin to imagine how this film would feel in a 4D cinema. I'm super impressed.
Starring - Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, and Will Poulter
As part of my new weekly independent/arts film series, I took a trip down to the Arts Picturehouse in Cambridge to catch a screening of THE REVENANT. But Gemma, is it really an independent film? I hear you ask. Well technically no, but it's certainly an arty film...so let's just pretend that it is.
'Jesus Christ, Leo is looking a bit old' I sit thinking, sipping my overpriced coke. I'm amongst a middle-aged audience who really don't look like they came to have a good time. Instantly, I'm struck by the most mesmerizing opening scene in all of film existence, you're quite literally taken IN to the film, following that A-Lister cast with one free flowing camera. I look around to see 40 different faces now glued to the screen, everyone in awe of what looks to be Alejandro González Iñárritu's new masterpiece. DiCaprio is finally playing an uncommon and foreign (literally) role to him, and I notice straight away that his accent is a little comic. Switching between a Southern and Western accent isn't going to help you win that Oscar, Leo. Aside from that little flaw, everything seems perfect: the choreography of camera-work, the lavish landscaping and of course, that insanely fitting soundtrack amidst the whole thing. It feels as though you're completely immersed in everything, and I can't even begin to imagine how this film would feel in a 4D cinema. I'm super impressed.
As for the bear fight (not so much of a fight on DiCaprio's part), I don't think anything could be more realistic. It feels so much like Skyrim. At just over an hour in to the film, I check my phone. I'd heard from a friend the day before that you're most on edge at around 70 minutes in, and sure enough, it's that time. I'm now gawping at the screen as Leo is being thrown about in a river and down a waterfall for about 5 minutes in the most exhilarating scene. Honestly, this is already in my opinion an all time great, and Iñárritu really knows how to show off his skills. After DiCaprio's character has been on the verge of death multiple times and has finally found someone to acquaint, I look around the cinema again to see everyone slightly smiling, one or two even full-faced ginning whilst they eat snow together (as weird as it sounds). Hats off to the writers of the screenplay, this is a film that you MUST watch in the cinema to gain full experience. If Leo doesn't win an Oscar just for the scene where he's buried in a foot of mud, I'll be quite disappointed.
In the final minute or two, I realise that my eyes are welling up and there's nothing I can do to stop making a fool of myself amongst this stone cold, middle-aged crowd. Nevertheless, I pull myself together and sit through the glorious last moment of THE REVENANT. A film of love, nature, the beginning of man, and God. The screen turns black and no-one stands up like they would at your average FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. I'm in shock, along with everyone else, and I absolutely love it.
In the final minute or two, I realise that my eyes are welling up and there's nothing I can do to stop making a fool of myself amongst this stone cold, middle-aged crowd. Nevertheless, I pull myself together and sit through the glorious last moment of THE REVENANT. A film of love, nature, the beginning of man, and God. The screen turns black and no-one stands up like they would at your average FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. I'm in shock, along with everyone else, and I absolutely love it.