With its various long-takes and its narrative centered on one man’s thousand-mile quest to seek vengeance on those who left him for dead, Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “The Revenant” combined beauty with brutality. And Vimeo user Tom Williams has highlighted the moments of pause in his video, “Stillness in The Revenant.”
Beautifully complimenting Emmanuel Lubezki’s gorgeous Oscar-winning cinematography, this somber, poetic 2 ½ minute tribute to Iñárritu’s latest is a stunning, visually extraordinary look at the film’s magnetic vision, captured entirely in natural lighting. While the film’s rugged, strenuous production and story often overshadowed the film’s larger conversation, this video is a firm reminder of the often-patient, carefully considered use of open space and barren terrain to demonstrate the sullen, sorrowful themes laid thick within. And though Leonardo DiCaprio’s whole-hearted dedication battling the elements and Iñárritu’s unceasing commitment to realize this rugged passion project blockade most people’s conversations about the film, Williams’ proves Lubezki is the real star in the end.
Accompanied by Ryuichi Sakamoto’s sweeping main theme, this is an aching, fondly-realized celebration of the film’s magnetic quality. And though "The Revenant" can seem never-ending, especially in retrospect, sometimes it’s good to sit back and appreciate the painstaking beauty found within. Check out the video below.