THE REVENANT (2016)

Genre: Drama / Adventure
Running Length: 2:36
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter, Forrest Goodluck
Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Screenplay: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and Mark L. Smith, based on part on the novel by Michael Punke

THE REVENANT feels like an expensive exercise in self indulgence by director Inarritu (more about that later). And it also feels like Leo signed up for this because it could be his ticket to winning an Oscar, finally. The industry knows that the Academy digs actors who go through physical transformation or some kind of emotional torture (or both) in the name of Intense Method Acting. And boy, does DiCaprio suffer to "become" the character of Hugh Glass; consuming raw bison liver on camera, frequently shirtless in hypothermia-inducing harsh climates, sleeping in animal carcasses and so on and forth. 

Please don't get me wrong as all these misery the cast and crew had to go through is translated powerfully on screen - it's a tough, intense and experiential drama. But was it necessary for the film to take so long to tell a simple revenge-in-the-wilderness tale? 

There were way too many perfectly crafted long tracking shots (especially the film's opening Indian raid sequence) which was more distracting than immersive. As the camera glides smoothly through the bloodbath, it calls attention to the whereabouts of the camera instead of making it disappear. It just informs me that Inarritu was intentional on this and wants people to admire his craft rather than getting the audience involved in the action. And there are just too many extended takes on the rugged landscape. 

That said, this method of "not cutting away" was employed effectively in a grizzly bear attack sequence which was intense and disturbing. It gives a realistic view of what actually takes place when a man is being mauled by an enraged bear. Viewers may find this scene way too unsettling as we see DiCaprio being shred apart. 

And speaking of serving the ego, there is an ongoing artsy dream sequence which didn't really serve the story except to showcase how beautifully it was shot. It could have at least been used to fill in some back story of our protagonist so that the audience could be more emotionally invested in him. All we know of DiCaprio's character is that he seems to be super determined to survive but I was detached from his character because I hardly know anything about him. 

From a technical standpoint, The Revenant is flawless and very beautiful to look at. Reportedly shot using only natural light, the glory of the untouched (and freezing) American frontier is masterfully captured. 

Catch it on big screen if you like a gorgeously filmed revenge flick cum survival porn.  

Rating: 7/10

BIRDMAN (2015)

Genre: Drama/Comedy
Running Length: 2:00
Cast: Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough, Emma Stone, Amy Ryan, Zach Galifianakis, Lindsay Duncan
Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Screenplay: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and Nicolas Giacobone and Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo

BIRDMAN (subtitled Or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is a ballsy movie. It will probably go down as one of the greatest satires of our times. The director brings a knife to a gunfight and successfully manages to stab everyone in the room. Nobody gets out alive as this razor sharp dark dramedy skewers everything in Hollywood and New York's Broadway; actors, producers, directors, critics, comic book franchises, 15 mins of fame on social media, pretentious rich and famous old farts etc. But it's not all mockery as the film also examines the crumbling and brokenness of its actors as they desperately search for significance and relevance in brutal Tinseltown. "Relevance" ahhh...Emma Stone's character delivers one of the best (and honest) monologues ever on this topic. That scene alone was worth the price of the ticket. Birdman has a lot to pack into its 2 hours but thankfully, it moves along swiftly. And speaking of that, one of the most talked-about aspect of the film is its single unbroken take (with the aid of meticulous digital editing to erase the seams). The camera never stops - tracking its actors in the premise of a Broadway theatre; through the narrow staircases, corridors, on the stage, on the roof etc. There is something happening every frame, thus making it too busy for my liking. It doesn't stop to breathe and allow moments of silence for the audience to soak in. Nevertheless, the heartbeat of the movie is its excellent performances from its ensemble of cast. Michael Keaton and Edward Norton are particularly good.

Rating: 7.5/10

Broadway theatre, more precisely between its stage, the backstage, the green rooms, the narrow and colourful corridors, the roof, and a small bar round the corner. I - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/birdman-movie-review-the-sound-of-my-voice/#sthash.loZPyHch.dpuf

Broadway theatre, more precisely between its stage, the backstage, the green rooms, the narrow and colourful corridors, the roof, and a small bar round the corner. I - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/birdman-movie-review-the-sound-of-my-voice/#sthash.loZPyHch.dpuf

Broadway theatre, more precisely between its stage, the backstage, the green rooms, the narrow and colourful corridors, the roof, and a small bar round the corner. I - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/birdman-movie-review-the-sound-of-my-voice/#sthash.loZPyHch.dpuf

Broadway theatre, more precisely between its stage, the backstage, the green rooms, the narrow and colourful corridors, the roof, and a small bar round the corner. I - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/birdman-movie-review-the-sound-of-my-voice/#sthash.loZPyHch.dpuf