This is a very good, very interesting, but very harsh movie that is based on "true events" dating back to the 1820's.  It's a story of extreme survival, and amazing heart as a tracker is left for dead by his crew after being mauled by a grizzly bear, and being attacked by Indians whose territory the commercial hunting expedition has been breached.

DiCaprio plays the tracker, Glass who has to endure the attacks, and the extreme elements of the western United States to get back to find the man, Fitzgerald (Hardy), who left him for dead, and killed his only son in the name of money.  This movie is a bit western, a bit adventure, and bit Castaway, and a bit heavy drama.  And to its credit, for as long as this is, at two and a half hours it moves along nicely and is compelling.

 
This is a different kind of role for DiCaprio with much of this without dialogue as we follow him through his left for dead journey in no man's land.  He endures about every imaginable problem one can have. But the revenge in him, to find his way back to avenge the death of his son keeps him going.

Hardy is great as our villain and plays these kind of roles very, very well. He is completely despicable as a man driven by anger and greed and wants his bounty at all costs.  This is exciting, it is powerful and this is is graphically violent at times.  Although not gratuitously so. As graphic as this is, it may not be for everyone. It shows very well the make up of the men that made up the early days of the unsettled American West where there was literally no law, and no order.  Oscar worthy? Probably this year, but his has been a slow year for critically acclaimed movies. This may finally be DiCaprio's turn to win, as the field may be weaker than normal.

The Revenant. Very solid. Strong movie.

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