Don’t wait to see this at home. There are outrageously thrilling sequences that I can only be fully appreciated on the big screen. Without divulging too much, there’s a bear mauling sequence in the film. It’s potentially the best animal vs man sequence of all time. It’s the most impressive and memorable sequence of the film and leaves you with chills.

Leonardo DiCaprio nails it again. The most talented actor in Hollywood without yet having won the precious Academy Award for Best Actor. It’s possible “The Revenant” delivers his finest performance. Considering his long list of works, it’s saying a lot to put this performance at least near the top. The intense grit he wields in the film is exciting. Very little dialogue is spoken by him in the film. That means his raw talent is exposed even further for mass audiences, critics, as well as the Academy. Each nuance was captured perfectly. I especially liked the using of his mouth to assist in loading of lead into the musket. It was also impressing that he learned two Native American languages. Against the wishes of his director, DiCaprio ate a potentially disease-ridden organ… even when a faux version made of jello was available. Leo claimed he didn’t think it would have been real enough.

The cultures of the characters were each unique, creating realistic chaos among them. It makes sense that such “kill or be killed” natures of the characters would lead to on-set tension between the cast and staff. It didn’t help that the weather portrayed was also the weather these same individuals had to endure throughout filming. It was emphasized that natural light would be used. While it’s appreciated by those with the appropriate palate, the natural difficulty in fighting off frostbite in the below 40 degree climate may go unappreciated by others.

Director Alejandro G. Inarritu is Unique, and rumors included him with the many others who potentially partook in the on-set quarrels. The scale of the film mixing with the director’s unique vision added to large concern during filming that the project would implode. Due to timing, Inarritu was forced to begin editing before the ending of the film had been shot. I’m sure tensions were high also in part of the director subjecting the cast and staff to such severe climates in order to accomplish his desires. This was praised later by DiCaprio, who admires the all-out hard work, even in extremes. Because he was so adamant about filming in authentic conditions, filming was a bit severe. When snow was lacking, filming seized, and was relocated; extending the entire process.

In an interview, sitting beside Director Alejandro G. Inarritu, Leo said, “There’s been a lot said about the movie and the difficulties making it, and how meticulous Alejandro is with his vision. But to me, that’s the shit that should be praised. I don’t want to work with somebody who isn’t thinking of every possible aspect of what’s up on the screen. I think there’s a hunger for audiences to see something completely extreme and difficult,” and that’s exactly right.

Since the film’s concerns began during filming, the financial success of the film has been in the air. Now, the film has surpassed $300 million.

Others in the film did fine. Tom Hardy was exceptional again, but the film is carried by two things: Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance and a bear mauling. Adding the epic cinematography, praised for it’s filming hardships, added a delicious topping to the film.

Some of the events in the story feel a bit far fetched, and they were, according to accounts. It’s been explained that the real life fur trapper Hugh Glass had his spirit successfully portrayed in the film but had a handful of changes for the film’s story. One thing changed was how the bear mauling was stopped. Based on eye witnesses, Glass was mauled, but that it took several shots from the rifles of peers to stop the attack. Also, the bit about being married to a Native American woman has little leg to stand on. Another key element was the weather conditions, the bear attack actually took place during the summer, not the dramatic winter. Lastly, Glass didn’t have a racially mixed son killed by one of his peers, but they did leave him to die in a shallow grave as portrayed.

The story is simple, and the performance is great. Outside of DiCaprio’s performance and the bear scene, there’s no new content that film lovers haven’t seen yet, but it’s all done so well together that it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I am guilty of laughing several times, not out of humor, but I got delirious from gratifying sequences. I thoroughly enjoyed the film, and it left a mark on me. I like when films leave me with lasting impressions.