Narwhal (narwhal)'s status on Monday, 25-Jan-16 01:45:11 UTC
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So I watched The Revenant. I feel like the best word I can think of to describe it is "oppressive". It's heavily atmospheric, but it works in that regard thanks to some absolutely stunning cinematography and effective sound design. It's really well shot and performed, though its uncompromising nature may be its greatest Achilles Heel. It's by all means brutal, but that brutality has me wondering if and when viscera in film overtakes narrative. It's a classic survival story driven by revenge, though I feel the most interesting "character" of the film is the environment itself. It's indifferent, starkly beautiful but also unwilling to nurture its inhabitants. The camerawork juxtaposes claustrophobic character shots with lush scenic wide takes, which further emphasizes its man vs nature thematic undertone. I don't think "enjoyed" is the right word for it, but I was certainly captivated by the film. In spite of its narrative shortcomings, if nothing else it demonstrates stellar film craft.
