There is nothing that appeals to me about being cold, wet,
and sleeping on the ground. If rugged
individualism requires this kind of misery, count me out. While I admire the skill and determination
that is necessary to survive in harsh wilderness conditions, I am confounded as
to why anyone would choose this life.
Therein lies my problem with the premises of both Jeremiah Johnson (1972) and The
Revenant (2015)… what are these guys doing out there in the first place? Jeremiah Johnson is a disfranchised veteran
looking for a clean start, while Hugh Glass (central character in The Revenant)
is a scout for a trapping expedition… both of these guys would have avoided
much heartbreak and grief if only they would have invested in a good pair of
long-johns and some bear repellent.
My inability to identify with the protagonists robs the
films of any emotional effectiveness.
There are elements about both films that I genuinely appreciated, but I
was constantly aware that “it’s just a movie” and my appreciation became purely
technical. Both films feature excellent
cinematography, and the costumes and makeup contribute to the illusion that the
characters are actually when and where the filmmakers purport them to be. Since I just saw The Revenant last night, I will focus on its technical
attributes: The camerawork and
choreography is distractingly amazing; the one-shot technique that was employed
in last year’s Birdman (by the same director, Alejandro González Iñárritu) is
used here with such virtuosity. There
are no constraints on Iñárritu’s camera.
Of course DiCaprio’s performance is exceptional, but its impact is
negligible partly because we have come to expect greatness from him, and partly
because the story is shallow. Tom Hardy
occupies the juiciest role; let me suggest that an antagonist in such miserable
conditions doesn’t seem quite as evil as he would in civilization.
So if you’re looking for a fun time this weekend, go see The Force Awakens again.
