It may not be the best film of the year, but the Revenant is still beautiful, A-

Above: Leonardo Dicaprio in the film The Revenant

The Revenant doesn't use gore at all throughout the film, yet, it's one of the most disturbing films to come out in the last few years on a wide release. As much as it's hard to watch, the film is even more beautiful, and what makes it shine is the chemistry between its two stars, Leonardo Dicaprio and Tom Hardy.
Above all, The Revenant is a film not to be watched by most movie goers. It's harsh grasp on reality and the wilderness is what makes it so disturbing but beautiful at the same time. It's a reminder of such film classics as The Thin Red Line & The New World, but at the same time, it's original and thought provoking.  That look & feel is helped by none other than Leonardo Dicaprio, who may have delivered the best performance of his career so far.
There's not too many actors that can pull a film off like the Revenant. To his credit, Leonardo does an astounding job as Hugh Glass. The actor truly makes you feel pain and pity for the character, who faces enormous odds on surviving his ordeal. You can see it in his face and body that he truly put time and effort into this role.
Another great actor in the film is Tom Hardy, who plays the bad guy. He's surprisingly just as good if not better than Leo in the film, showing off his own talents. He plays one of the most memorable movie villains and a true SOB this year, and without him, the Revenant may not even be as great as it is.
But perhaps the biggest star of the film is the harsh and beautiful landscape, which also is a main character. The stark and rough feel to it goes beyond wonder in the film, making almost every scene glorious in its own way. One just has to watch in order to appreciate the cinematography, which may be the best in recent film memory. If anything else, the camera work, lighting and nature scenes is what makes the Revenant a masterpiece in its own way.
However, the Revenant isn't a perfect film, nor can it be as described as the best of the year. For various reasons, but the most is that the film isn't for everyone. It certainly isn't for children, and some of the scenes in the film make it hard to watch, especially with the bear.
Although the beginning and the end are mindblowing, the middle part of the movie can drag on at the best of times. And even though it's 'based on a true story' the story itself seems a bit unrealistic.  How long can Leo's character truly survive in the winter in the frozen landscape of Montana and Wyoming without dying of hypothermia or frostbite is a puzzlement, no matter how many bear skin jackets he might wear.
That being aside, the Revenant is a beautiful movie that is anchored on Leonardo Dicaprio's mind bending performance as Hugh Glass.