Based on a true story from 1823, “The Revenant” depicts frontiersman, Hugh Glass, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, fighting for his life after being mauled by a bear and abandoned by his comrades. The movie shows, in gruesome detail, the mental and physical wounds inflicted to Glass throughout his brutal fight for survival.

The movie has already been awarded three Golden Globes and is nominated for an astounding 12 Academy Awards, including Best Actor, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Picture.

DiCaprio did a great job channeling the emotions of anger and pain throughout the film. After fighting his way back to the safety of Fort Kiowa, DiCaprio embodies revenge as he savagely searches for John Fitzgerald, the man who abandoned him and killed his son.

John Fitzgerald, played by Tom Hardy, is an insensitive fur trapper who develops into the villain in the movie. Although he may not have a solid set of morals, Fitzgerald has insightful and thought-provoking speeches during the movie. Between Hardy’s ability to act so cold-heartedly and transmit his lines with such power, he is in contention for Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Globes.

Additionally, the filming of the movie was spectacular. The rural locations used in the making of the film included Canada, the United States, and Argentina. The director, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, made sure that the movie included no computer generated- imagery and shot the movie with only natural lighting. Although he knew this would make the process of filming the movie a lot longer, he said that if they used green-screen and additional lighting, “…the film would be a piece of shit.”

Although the movie went much over budget and was extremely difficult to film, the end product keeps audiences engaged and on their toes, follows the outline of the real story, and also manages to make people reflect on fighting for what you believe in, the importance of honesty, and the cost of selfishness.