gljbradley
I finally watched this film like two nights ago and I enjoyed it. I became surprisingly immersed into it and I didn't think I would be. The story was great, the direction was great, the acting was amazing, the flow was decent, the visuals were quite good, the music was beyond beautiful, and most of all, the messages/morals were very profound. Even though it felt a little slow at times, it was very enthralling to where you can't help but be into it.Loosely based on the true story of Hugh Glass' ordeal and experience, this film really did a an outstanding job in bringing to life a story about an incredible person from history. To think, much of the traumatic stuff Hugh Glass went through is almost unbelievable and indescribable. It's amazing that he was able to get through all that and continue on. Boy, the human spirit and determination is something else! And that's what this movie, and for that matter, 'The Revenant', have shown. The shear will to live and having faith shows that we as human beings can get through difficult situations when we put our minds and hearts to it. It proves that even though things may seem bleak, don't give in and don't give up because a light of hope will make itself known. In a good way, this film felt real, raw, and at times, brutal. Ultimately, it came across as stunning, poetic, and surreal.I think how the story plays out was great and poignant. It just touches the spirit and mind.I only have like a few issues with it but they're not really that serious. I felt that it could've been a little longer. Like at least maybe 20 more minutes longer in which they could've possibly shown Zack's journey in the wilderness more and perhaps a few more glimpses into his past. I admittedly feel that this film was a tad bit too brief because the journey was amazing to look at and Richard Harris' performance was incredible despite having a couple of lines of dialogue. Perhaps with the small budget and little time they had, filmmakers did their best in terms of showing as much as we needed to see in understanding the main character and his plight. The second thing is the editing. At times, the editing feels a bit random and odd in some parts as if the timing was a little off. For example, if there's a scene coming to an end, it all of sudden cuts to the next scene without a more proper segue into it. This isn't in most scenes thank goodness. And finally, I wish they could've also focused more on the nature aspect of Zach Bass' evolution. Then again, they do show a good amount of nature playing a role in his physical and personal journey. Now that I think about it, this film does in fact shows that less is more. And every bit of detail of the story doesn't necessarily have to be spoon-fed to us. We understand the situation at hand with its subtlety.The film does a wonderful and beautiful job in conveying its message, and getting to the point. It was so thought-provoking and mind blowing in several ways.7.5/10
weezeralfalfa
This film gives a rather graphic idea of what it took for the real man Zach Bass is based upon, Hugh Glass, to survive and reach a distant outpost of European civilization, after being badly mauled by a mother grizzly and left for dead by his companions. As such, it ranks among the elite in unbelievable survival stories.The film begins following Glass's account quite closely,but gradually diverges somewhat as the story continues. Whereas Bass's companions are returning southward with the year's furs, Glass's historical mauling occurred while they were en route northwestward toward Ft. Henry, near the present MT-ND border.I wish the film had continued to follow Glass's account of his journey to Ft. Kiowa, in present central SD, being aided by Sioux at one point. The film fails to give credit to his subsequent perilous search for all those responsible for leaving him to die, some of whom had since left the expedition. This search for explanation and vengeance consumed about 8 months, much longer than his original epic journey, and often involving traveling long distances alone in winter over the northern plains, with the ever present dangers of hostile 'indians', wolves, starvation and freezing to death. During these journeys, he should have died at least twice, along with most of his companions, at the hands of the Arikaras, and was reported as apparently killed for the second time in less than a year. In a sense, in the film, this period was fused into Bass's epic journey, when he had to travel through snowstorms and snowfields before catching up with his companions. Glass's epic journey occurred from late Aug. to early Oct.Of all the men on the real expedition, Glass was probably uniquely qualified to have any chance of surviving his severe injuries. Although he was around 40, one of the oldest expedition members, he obviously had a very resilient physical constitution. He also probably had the most experience in this environment, having spent several years with the Pawnee after being captured, absorbing their survival skills. He also had incredible luck over the years in surviving situations that his companions often didn't survive. Finally, he was basically a loner, used to relying on himself to survive in this challenging environment.Perhaps I don't fully understand the symbolic nature of John Huston's role as Captain Henry.He seems like a Captain Ahab-like figure, riding on that keelboat on a wheeled carriage, being hauled overland by a team of mules and men. When the men object to the insanity of this operation, he replies that the boat is his only remaining symbol of command of this expedition. In place of Moby Dick, he has a paranoid fear of Bass(Richard Harris), based on his past experience of Bass having a seemingly supernatural ability to escape certain death. Thus, even though Fogarty and Lowrie swear they buried a dead Bass, taking his survival equipment, Henry is certain he is alive and seeking revenge, and periodically looks in the distance for him. Fogarty begins to share his paranoia, and shoots into the darkness around their camp, certain he saw Bass hiding. Of course, Bass does eventually appear. But, instead of being a nightmarish seeker of revenge, he inadvertently saves the others from an attack by a large party of Arikaras. Evidently, the Arikara chief is impressed by Bass's bravery and skill at surviving alone, and decides to spare him and, by extension, the other expedition members, whom he has not yet joined. Yet again impressed by the quirkiness of fate, Bass decides not to press his desire for revenge and, after retrieving his rifle, walks off into the unknown, perhaps having concluded that he is better off relying on himself for survival. Captain Henry seems to sympathize with this decision. If this interpretation is correct, Bass is basically like Jeff Webster in "The Far Country", who prefers to face adversity by himself and not get involved in other people's problems, having been betrayed by others in the past. Alternatively, one reviewer suggests that Bass was going home to see his small son. The first interpretation is more in keeping with Glass's subsequent life.Incidentally, the real Glass did not forgive Fitzgerald, whom he most blamed for his abandonment. Rather, he was refrained from killing this man only by the fact that he had since enlisted in the US army, with a capital penalty for his murder. He had earlier spared Jim Bridger because of his youth and the fact that Bridger had felt compelled to follow the lead of his older companion. Of course, Bridger would go on to become one of the grand old men of the West: one of the lucky few to survive all the hazards of this life.During his epic journey of rebirth, Bass witnesses a squaw brought into the woods, then left alone to give birth in the traditional squatting position. Later, her husband returns to help with the infant and take her back to the village. This brings back memories of Bass's deceased wife and his small child. But, I think he also identifies with her as someone who must also sometimes endure great pain and loneliness in order to fulfill her purpose in life. This helps give him more determination to survive his desperate situation.
