Oscar prospects look bright for "The Revenant" movie.
Although there's a review embargo on the film until Dec. 4, early reactions to the film have been "extremely positive," according to Screen Rant.
Some Hollywood insiders are even predicting that the film might just be the vehicle that will finally land an Academy award for Leonardo DiCaprio.
Directed by "Birdman" helmsman Alejandro González Iñarritu, "The Revenant" movie is inspired by the true story of 1820s frontiersman Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) who seeks vengeance against his comrades who left him for dead after he was mauled by a bear.
And thanks to a recently released TV trailer, there has been a growing interest in "The Revenant," which has also been receiving a lot of positive buzz on social media.
"The Revenant" TV spot doesn't highlight the film's narrative, but instead focuses more on the "atmosphere" of the project.
The film's prior trailers have been able to successfully convey "a sense of urgency" that has, in turn, helped create a strong impression among viewers, and hopefully sustain their interest until the movie's theatrical release.
While shooting the film, Iñarritu utilized ambitious filming techniques, which included an extended period to shoot its principal photography.
The director also chose to use natural light in shooting scenes in "The Revenant," which would allow viewers to better appreciate the scale and scope of the film.
In an interview with Yahoo, "The Departed" actor shared that shooting "The Revenant" movie was among the most intense experiences in his professional acting career.
"I can name 30 or 40 sequences that were some of the most difficult things I've ever had to do," DiCaprio said.
"Whether it's going in and out of frozen rivers, or sleeping in animal carcasses, or what I ate on set. [I was] enduring freezing cold and possible hypothermia constantly," he added.
The "Blood Diamond" star said that while filming "The Revenant," he was able to experience firsthand the transformation of his character, and at the same time, gain a greater respect for nature.
"It's epic poetry, an existential journey through nature, and this man finding a will to live against all odds," the 41-year-old actor said.
"Yet he changes, nature changes him and I think those elements changed him while we were doing the movie," he added.
"The Revenant" movie opens on limited release on Dec. 25.
