In this excellent article [linked at the bottom of the page] about the man depicted by Richard Harris in the movie reviewed in the article ‘Only One More River To Cross’ and Leonardo Di Caprio in The Revenant, we are treated to a more gripping story than the two fictional variants put on film. Interestingly, in both films the Indians are depicted as much less varied and more benevolent than they actually were. The fact is that Hugh Glass and almost every Mountain Man was slain by Indians, not because the Mountain Men did anything to the Indians, but because the Indians were warriors and when strangers come into a warrior’s land, the warriors fight to preserve their territorial claims. Let me be clear that I thoroughly enjoyed both movies. I understand that a film must currently make certain concessions to the general consciousness to be viable enough to win a top flight leading man.

The alteration of such a naturally good story line could not be for the sake of a better story, but must come from the filmmakers taking the measure of Modern America, in its 1970s version and in its 2015 version, and finding it unable to sustain a true story, but requiring the comfort of the simplistic lie.

The Revenant, or “He Who Returns” in French is “partially based” on the novel by the same name, which is “based” on the life of Hugh Glass. This is a beautifully done adventure movie, with the highest quality settings, actors, period props, cinematography and sound track.

As far as the story, the two and a half hour movie spends about half of its effort telling a mostly true story of one man’s struggle to overcome horrible injuries and abandonment and to return to civilization in search of revenge. To the extent that the story of Hugh Glass’s survival diverts from the true is in its accommodation of a brutal Native American comic book fantasy, which I gather was necessary if movie makers were going to receive Native American cooperation in filming this. I do not want to spoil the movie by discussing the bizarre treatment of the free Indians of 1823 Montana, who are done an injustice here in service to the whining reservation Indians of 2015 Montana. Those interested may read the truth in the article linked below. Suffice it to say that the core of the drama, the linchpin of the story line necessary to depict all white men as evil except for the redemptive Glass, is total fantasy. U.S infantry were not tramping around Montana in 1823 wiping out Indian villages and stacking bone piles. Hell, the U.S cavalry of the Gatling gun era had a hard time pulling this off fifty years later!

Compared to the movies for which I saw the trailers, including two about superheroes [Kill them all, please!], one about evil Confederates [There will never be another Civil War era movie depicting a Confederate hero who does not betray his cause.], and a bizarre sequel to Olympus Has Fallen, [the worst movie of the last decade] depicting a hero president of the U.S. fighting Muslims in London alongside Gerald Butler, The Revenant is the only thing intended to be popular that I could imagine stomaching on the big screen this winter.

All that said, The Revenant came much closer to the actual story than most movies recently claiming a historical basis. I’d have to say that this is as good as it gets. Watch both films, but check out Nancy’s excellent article at the link below the trailer window.