The Revenant is Leonardo DiCaprio’s most powerful performance – Blu-ray review and giveaway

By Marriska Fernandes on April 21, 2016 | 23 Comments


Leonardo DiCaprioLeonardo DiCaprio as Hugh Glass in The Revenant finally won his first Academy Award for his brilliantly executed role in The Revenant. This might be the film in which he has the least dialogue, but he packs an emotional punch in every scene that makes this film worth a watch.

In the 1820s, experienced Wyoming mountain man Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) guides survivors after an ambush by the Indians. While they are traveling on foot, Hugh is attacked by a grizzly bear. This scene gets a good amount of screen time, making the brutal attack almost unbearable.

Hugh is badly injured and although Captain Andrew Henry (Domhnall Gleeson) and his men do their best to nurse his wounds and carry him along the trail, they soon give up. John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) advises Andrew to shoot Hugh, but Andrew can’t bring himself to pull the trigger. Instead, Andrew offers to pay men to watch over Hugh until his last breath.

Jim Bridger (Will Poulter) and John agree to stay behind, along with Hugh’s son, Hawk. Soon after, when Jim is away by the water, John attempts to smother Hugh to death. Hawk sees this and tries to save his father, but is stabbed to death by John. Unable to move, Hugh can still see what’s going on and witnesses his son dying before him. This emotional scene was perfectly directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and successfully draws sympathy from the audience.

John disposes of Hugh’s body in a shallow pit and tells Jim he heard Indians around the corner and that they are about to attack. Jim hesitates, then runs for his life with John, leaving behind an injured and grieving Hugh who is bent on revenge. Thus begins a journey of retribution.

This gut-wrenching, visceral true story has all the ingredients of a box office hit. Albeit, you need a strong stomach to witness some of the hard-hitting and gory scenes. However, if you are a hardcore Leonardo fan who has been been rooting for his Oscar win since Titanic, you will enjoy this film. His expressions captured the grief of a father, the anger at his team’s betrayal, the sheer will to survive and the need to get vengeance for his son. I’d say this was certainly one of his most powerful performances.

Leonardo also went to extremes for this film – he actually ate a raw bison liver and shot many scenes in the frigid cold climate of Alberta, even to the extent that at one point, his eyes were frozen shut.

Alejandro González Iñárritu carefully stitches together the brutal account of Hugh’s journey and procured fantastic performances, not to mention the cinematic scenes in Alberta that make this film a masterpiece. For his part, Tom Hardy was perfect as the villain, making it easy to hate his character. Will Poulter was also admirable as Jim Bridger, drawing sympathy for a kid with a conscience. Click here to watch our interview with him.

If you don’t mind stomaching the graphic scenes (or maybe shut your eyes), you will likely enjoy this action-packed film. Special features on the Blu-ray include A World Unseen documentary.

~Marriska Fernandes

We are giving away one copy of The Revenant on Blu-ray, available to Canadian residents only. To have a chance at winning, please leave a comment below with your full name telling us why you’d like to win and make sure to enter an email where we can contact you in the box provided – this will not be visible to the public.



Comments & Discussion

  1. TJ Hansen • April 21, 2016 @ 10:07 AM

    Everything about this movie amazes me. Action, drama, great performances. I would love to win this.

  2. Nellie Tait • April 21, 2016 @ 11:10 AM

    I would love to win this movie because it is amazing! I love Leo and I love this movie.

  3. Matthew O. • April 21, 2016 @ 11:18 AM

    I wanna win because I’ve watched all the Oscar winning movies but this one!

  4. Gladys Marie Magega • April 21, 2016 @ 11:25 AM

    I would like to win this movie and donate it to our Library here at the Military Base (where I work)… then many more could enjoy this action/survival movie!

  5. Terrie • April 21, 2016 @ 11:26 AM

    I want my sons to watch this movie.

  6. Belinda Charney • April 21, 2016 @ 11:29 AM

    I would love to win this movie and share it with family and friends. I would have a “movie” night here at home. Since Leonardo ate Bison Liver I would visit the wild game butchery and order some wild game for people to try!!That actually sound AWESOME!!! Just might do it anyway!!

  7. Walt Tanner • April 21, 2016 @ 11:31 AM

    ‪#‎TheRevenant‬ ‪#‎contest
    I am a supporter of any films made in Canada. Loe acting was at its best in this film. I would love to have it in my Canadian Films colleection.

  8. Brenda Borges • April 21, 2016 @ 12:31 PM

    I would love to win a copy of this film because it was one of my favourites of the Oscar season, and Leo is fantastic in it!

  9. Sharon Fern • April 21, 2016 @ 2:18 PM

    Huge fan of Leonardo DiCaprio. The Departed, Titanic, Inception, Django Unchained, Shutter Island, The Beach, Blood Diamond – he should have won an Oscar for that one, Gangs of New York, and The Man in the Iron Mask are some of my favorites. Missed The Revenant in the theatre, and I would very much like to this this film with an Oscar winning performance of Leo. Winning a copy would be a bonus!!!

  10. Angela Mitchell • April 21, 2016 @ 3:08 PM

    This was my favourite movie of 2015. I’d love to win so I can watch again and share with my friends and family.

  11. Danny Maibroda • April 22, 2016 @ 3:23 AM

    Great movie and a great performance from Leonardo DiCaprio. It would make a fine addition to my movie collection.

  12. sara • April 22, 2016 @ 7:06 AM

    I heard soooo many positive reviews. Just itching to watch the movie. Can’t wait!!!!

  13. Kevin Ritchie • April 22, 2016 @ 1:27 PM

    It was a great movie and I would like to see it again and again and …

  14. jennifer stine • April 22, 2016 @ 1:30 PM

    I would love to win this b/c it got so many Oscar noms, and the trailer looked really intense.

  15. paula Ritchie • April 22, 2016 @ 1:36 PM

    I found it a very powerful movie and want to watch it again

  16. wendy lee-flavell • April 23, 2016 @ 1:33 PM

    i love leos acting and i would love to have this movie !

  17. Jo-Ann MacIntyre • April 23, 2016 @ 3:05 PM

    I would love to win this movie because the trailer viewing looks pretty good.Also enjoyed many movies starring Leonardo Decaprio ,who is a great actor,love all his movies.

  18. Sara schwab • April 23, 2016 @ 3:10 PM

    I want to win this cause I want to see the movie

  19. Brenda Bale • April 23, 2016 @ 5:53 PM

    I would love to win this movie and share the viewing of it with my grandchildren when they come and visit this summer.

  20. Janet Knudsen • April 24, 2016 @ 9:55 AM

    I want to win because the synopsis is fascinating and Leo is a great actor!

  21. Nancy Mah • April 24, 2016 @ 11:32 AM

    Saw the movie at the theatre and was very impressed… would like to own a copy to watch again and share with others

  22. Carissa Thorpe • April 25, 2016 @ 7:44 AM

    I love Leo, and I’d love to see the film that finally got him Oscar recognition!

  23. Shannon B • April 25, 2016 @ 4:02 PM

    Absolutely loved this movie and also since part of it was filmed so close to where I live, it’s amazing. Please pick me to win. Thanks!!


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