Many may wonder why Leonardo DiCaprio has not won an Oscar. He has been nominated for numerous acting awards and has not one once. “The Revenant” better be one where he wins though. “The Revenant” is a film that is visually stunning with scenery, action, and close-up shots that make viewers feel they are part of the movie. Alejandro G. Inarritu has outdone himself with “The Revenant.” I thought at first that “Birdman” was his best, but “The Revenant” takes his directing to a whole new level.

 

Most of the movie is predictable, however, predictable in a context where the predictability establishes a good, suspense plot for its viewers. DiCaprio is Hugh Glass, a huntsman who is left for a bear mauling. Then there is F. Scott Fitzgerald (played by Tom Hardy), the outspoken, arrogant, and aggravating hunter along with Glass. Fitzgerald is the one that leaves Glass to be attacked by the bear, betrays his paths, and takes it out on killing Glass’s son. This leaves Glass to go on a ravaging journey for revenge against Fitzgerald.

 

What made the movie suspenseful was its use of scenery. I saw this at an advanced screening and Will Poulter (who has a role in the movie) was there. He mentioned that all the lighting in “The Revenant” was filmed with natural lighting. That natural lighting is used so perfectly where audience feel as if they are being embraced in the wilderness of British Columbia. The natural lighting and the wild animals all play for an experience that is very enticing. Inarritu’s use of cinematography reminded me of the director David Fincher. I say this because the outdoor cinematography of “The Revenant” looked similar to Fincher’s “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” (2011). The cinematography of outdoors in that movie was on an island in Sweden. I can tell readers now that with “The Revenant,” there are in for a treat with scenery and excitement.

 

For DiCaprio, he does quite well with all of the hard elements he had to go through with making “The Revenant.” This includes him getting hypothermia, and sleeping in animal carcasses. That is disgusting with complete honesty. I find that the scenes where animal carcasses are involved plays into the brilliant style of directing of Inarritu. The scenes may be disgusting and hard to watch. However, it is another element of making viewers feel they are more in the movie.

 

I know DiCaprio went through other hard elements with making a variety of his movies. However, that is off topic, and I want to get into a good conclusion of why “The Revenant” is so stunning as a movie and a work-of-art sensation.

 

Throughout the beginning, middle, and end, there are frequent moments of close-ups of old-fashioned weaponry. Weaponry, which involves bow, arrows, spears, axes, and guns that can only shoot well with gunpowder. The lack of resources makes viewers curious of how the characters can or will survive if they get hurt. That is because there is not much to treat the injured in this time frame. It is a film where we wonder how injuries can go given the lack of first-aid.

 

Overall, “The Revenant” is by far one of the best movies of 2015. I believe I will watch this movie a second time when it gets its nationwide release on January 5^th. I do not think it is necessarily better than “Birdman” but it is something different among different filming elements. An intense, moving, and a truthful movie that is faithful to its time period.

 

Four stars.

Some may have thought that the “Rocky” franchise was over, however, it lives on with “Creed.” Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone are a revelation. It is a film that is about pride, honor, and glory. Jordan never breaks character. He has the “Rocky” mind-set focused on being a brilliant boxer. Director Ryan Coogler makes his mark with one of the best films of 2015. That movie is “Creed.”

 

The plot of the film focuses on Adonis Creed (Jordan). He is a boy who never knew his father, because he passed before he was born. His father was Apollo Creed, one of Rocky Balboa’s (Stallone) opponents back in the “Rocky” movies. Adonis has spent his childhood getting into fights. He does this because he wants to be a fighter just like his father was. He finds Balboa, introduces himself, and convinces Balboa to train him. Together they prep for a match that will hopefully make Adonis a champion just like his father was.

 

What I liked about the movie was its scenery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I felt like I was watching a new “Rocky.” That new “Rocky” is Jordan. He wakes up early, he runs, lifts, and trains all in the heart of Philadelphia. The movie shows the “Rocky” legacy living on. This is accomplished through the familiar setting, the plot, the story and its characters.

 

I love this movie. I am a fan of Coogler’s 2013 sensation, “Fruitvale Station” which also starred Jordan. That film was a serious adaptation of what one man went through on a rough and dramatic last day of 2008. What I liked better about “Creed” though was that it is positive, whereas “Fruitvale Station” is pure drama. Jordan fits better in films that have a positive resolution because of the type of actor he is. According to the press, he is kind, generous, and takes his roles seriously. He manages to take the role in “Creed” to the extent that it becomes a work of art sensation.

 

Overall, “Creed” is a film worthy of an award. If you like boxing, or “Rocky,” you will love this movie as much as I did. It will make you cry, and you will not want the movie to end. The acting is top-notch. I was enthralled from start to finish with this sports action thriller that is also a captivating drama. Go check out “Creed.”

 

Four stars.

Many may have read not the best reviews of “Burnt.” I found the movie to be quite enthralling. The theme of cooking is taken seriously in this movie. That is something I found unique and classy about this clever, independent flick. Bradley Cooper is top-notch and so is Sienna Miller. The movie is serious, charming, and very honest. I personally think that this movie is one that I will watch again in the future for something to watch just to feel happy or entertained.

The plot of the movie is about a chef named Adam Jones (Cooper). A chef that has had a rough past and career but is looking to get back into the game with his knowledge of food. He keeps a journal with many keys and ideas of what makes food good to perfection. Therefore, he invents his own restaurant business. When he does this, he hires numerous chefs, buys expensive supplies, and lays the rules of how to cook professionally in his kitchen.

Jones is a man of talent, but also has the assistance to make better for his restaurant. His assistant is Helene (Miller), a fun girl that is also a top chef. Both build a relationship for success and have their differences. The movie does a good job at implying the pros and cons of these two actors. Both of them cook differently, have different routines, and are just different individuals.

The director is John Wells. He directs the Showtime series “Shameless.” I feel his writing relates more to “Shameless” as it does with “Burnt.” The fact that things go wrong no matter what, and that is something that happens with both “Shameless” and “Burnt.” However with “Burnt” he has it start off kind of funny, in the middle point, the movie gets serious, and then later everything goes in an unpredictable manner. I will not elaborate much on this concept. That is something for viewers to have to find out for themselves.

Overall, “Burnt” is fairly classy with elegance. I love the concept of food, the seriousness of the film, the acting, and the story. I found myself mesmerized in certain serious moments. Especially with Cooper, he never disappoints. He acts well as he does in “American Hustle” (2013), “American Sniper” (2014), and many other films to name. I think I may watch it again.

Three and a half stars.