Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Genre

Action | Sci-Fi

Director

George Miller

Country

Australia | USA

Cast

Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough, Zoë Kravitz, Abbey Lee, Courtney Eaton, Josh Helman, Nathan Jones, John Howard, Richard Carter, Angus Sampson, iOTA, Quentin Kenihan, Jennifer Hagan, Jon Iles, Melissa Jaffer, Megan Gale, Gillian Jones, Joy Smithers, Melita Jurisic

Storyline

In the stark desert wasteland populated by a broken humanity driven with survival and the unending ravage for gasoline, a loner named Max (Tom Hardy) finds himself unwantedly caught in the middle of a chase while aiding the heroine Furiosa (Charlize Theron), and her female companions, she struggles to return to her homeland and escape the clutches of a ruthless dessert gang leader, Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne).

Opinion

Following a series of ups and downs, the Mad Max Trilogy ended in the worst possible of ways with "Beyond Thunderdome", a film starring Mel Gibson that somehow ends up on the set of "Hook". Ever since, George Miller had plenty of time to think. I imagine him brainstorming, trying to restore Max's name and dignity; and here he is, thirty years later, with a brand new film that will blow you away.

A ferocious, glorious, gripping, thrilling, and absolutely insane film, "Mad Max: Fury Road" is a masterpiece that goes far beyond the action genre.

As mentioned earlier, George Miller had plenty of time and he used it beautifully: not only he identified the weak points of his narrative, but he also realized that action without substance doesn't have any purpose. Miller renewed his post-apocalyptic universe and was able to express this complex and chaotic world to perfection through his people: every single face has a story to tell that is worth listening to.

You will be immediately catapulted into a mad world, where it is not recommended to let your guard down, between a sandstorm and an attack led by the War Boys. Adrenaline doesn't lower for a single moment, leaving you on the edge of the seat for the whole running time.

To a great story frantically paced is added a minimal use of CGI on behalf of the spectacular Australian landscapes and real stunts. The result is a mix of explosions, jumps and fights so real that no computer will ever be able to replicate. Also, the way the sick action sequences were filmed not only is revolutionary but is so fantastic there are no words to describe it.

But the real innovation is the presence of women. They are the real characters, and for once they break free from the 'objects to be saved and owned' label that our male-dominated society imposes, and they fight for their freedom. Among these stands out Furiosa, the heroine of the story with a dark past behind her.

Then of course there's Mad Max, no longer in the disguise of Mel Gibson, still a man haunted by his past, so tormented to force himself to an even greater exile than the rest of humanity has to deal with. To balance the whole there is Immortan Joe, a terrible tyrant and self-proclaimed god followed by the War Boys, warriors willing to sacrifice their lives to earn Joe's admiration.

As for the acting, Tom Hardy's talent for portraying strong, silent characters shines again in a subtle performance. Thanks to his impetuous and animalistic attitude, and a glance filled with madness, he really does a great job. However, the stand out is Charlize Theron who delivers an emotionally perfect and Oscar worthy performance as Furiosa. 

Yes, it deserves every single nomination. 

Hope is a mistake. If you can't fix what's broken, you'll, uh... you'll go insane. - Max Rockatansky