It was quite funny that all the other grizzly Yanks are British - namely Tom Hooper, Domhnall Gleeson (who's a definite chameleon), Will Poulter and Paul Anderson.
Shot entirely in natural light in Canada and Argentina using an Arri Alexa 65 digital camera with lenses from 12mm to 21mm (giving that odd almost distorted feel when the camera's executing a 360° pan through woods, which it has a propensity to do) and winning Chivo his third consecutive Oscar. (Interestingly Y Tu mama Tambien was '90% natural light' and Malick also favours it. The film does look like a Malick and you have to also credit the camera operator P. Scott Sakamoto. It's all steadicam, hand held or crane.) Plus there are all sorts of interestingly coloured lens flares.
This approach also gives the film a visceral impact right from the opening Indian attack, which had it been shown in a 1950s John Wayne film, would certainly have caused riots. The bear attack, made using CGI, is terrific. Film prompts occasional quips to counter the grit such as 'You look nice in that horse'.
Leo's makeup is terrific and he ends up looking like a bear. The film certainly paints a picture of a time when people were almost as bestial as animals. It was quite similar to The Martian, in a way (one man against the odds).
There's some great music, used very sparingly, composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto. Also loved this ruined church:
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