I doubt I’ll ever get tired of watching George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road from 2015. I’m definitely a fan of the whole series and after what was probably my sixth or seventh watch of the film, I’d still place it firmly as second best of the franchise after 1981’s Mad Max 2 aka The Road Warrior. The film is something of a throwback, with its reliance on practical effects and invoking of classic Western genre imagery, but that’s part of why the film is so damn good. Sure, the filmmaking is indisputably modern and clean, but the action sequences involving stunt players, real car crashes, and real explosions prove the superiority of practical effects over CGI. Furthermore, the flexibility of the Western genre is on full display. May 15th marks the film’s 9th anniversary. Normally, I’d wait for a nice round number to write a retro review, but Miller’s prequel, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, is debuting in just a few scant days. So, let’s go ahead and celebrate now.
“Mad” Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy, taking over the iconic role from Mel Gibson and making it his own) seems to have been roaming the desert wasteland of post-apocalyptic Australia for some time now. Disheveled and feral, Max is haunted by the loss of his family and everyone he’s ever known. He’s soon captured by a warlord’s hunting party and forced to become a human blood bag for tumor-riddled soldiers.
Meanwhile, Imperator Furiosa (rugged and capable Charlize Theron) sets in motion her plan to escape the tyranny of the aforementioned warlord, the hulking and diseased Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne, who played the villainous Toecutter in the original Mad Max from 1979). Absconding with Joe’s five wives (Zoe Kravitz, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough, Abbey Lee, and Courtney Eaton) on her heavily armored and weapons-laden war rig, Furiosa hopes to make it to the land of her birth where they will be free of Joe and his mutated cult-like followers. The pursuit of Furiosa gives Max an opportunity for escape when he’s herded along by an enthusiastic soldier named Nux (Nicholas Hoult). Brought together by circumstances, Max, Furiosa, and the wives try to outrun Joe’s outlandish vehicular army.
Hardy does a great job as Max. Most of his performance is physical in nature and his dialog is fairly minimal. Still, in conjunction with Miller’s direction, he’s able to convey a fully realized character, though it’s of the archetypal variety. Theron, Keays-Byrne, and Hoult are also all excellent. While Max is recognizable as a figure from a Western, this trio gives full breadth to the dystopic sci-fi elements. A tough-as-nails Theron is the heart of the picture.
As I mentioned above, the practical effects work is stunning, and why it should belong on any film lover’s list of best films of the ‘10s. Even if this had been made decades ago, it would still be massively impressive in its approach to its action. Cinematographer John Seale appealingly focuses on the intricate driving sequences with Margaret Sixel’s editing giving coherence to all the twisted metal and mayhem. This film is dynamic and slick-looking, with stylized flourishes enhancing the frenetic pace.
In a brisk 120 minutes, Miller and company roar through the narrative and captivate with a larger-than-life spectacle. This entry continues Miller’s franchise trademark bizarre costume and character usage. The weird world-building works quite well because of the gritty realistic texture provided by the very grounded effects. Miller and his co-writers Nico Lathouris and noted British indie comics creator Brendan McCarthy also wed quirkiness to mythic themes perfectly. It’s an approach I wish more sci-fi films would attempt. Additionally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Junkie XL’s propulsive score. As thunderous as the visuals, the EDM artist goes big and helps keep you on the edge of your seat.
Modern action filmmaking doesn’t get much better than what’s on display in George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road. The early reactions to the upcoming prequel would seem to indicate that it will make for a worthy companion piece. It’s clear that the world of Mad Max still resonates with viewers and can be adapted with modern sensibilities while keeping an eye on its past. It receives my highest possible recommendation for anyone who loves movies, but especially for fans of vehicular mayhem, wasteland marauders, and mythic storytelling.
Michael Cavender