A Review: Mad Max: Furry Road
George Miller’s 2015 post-apocalyptic, Mad Max: Fury Road, was an amazing feat. He managed to make a science fiction/non-stop action film that was beautiful cinematically, very thought provoking and relevant while still being packed full of extreme action, huge beautiful sets and production design, violence, explosions, and car chases. Miller manages to pack all this into a 2 hour film, which will go by quickly but make you feel like you’ve lived a whole lifetime in the Citadel. Along with all these amazing achievements Mad Max: Fury Road has been praised for being pro-feminist and quite progressive. All of these accomplishments didn’t go unnoticed by the Academy. Mad Max: Fury Road won six Oscars: Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Costume Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Make-up and Hairstyle. It was the first film in the Mad Max series to receive Academy Award recognition, and one of only a few sequels to be nominated for Best Picture.
Following nuclear fallout, the world is a dystopian wasteland ruled by malicious warlord dictators. Max Rockatansky, (Tom Hardy) is captured by the War Boys, Immortan Joe’s army of suicidal miscreants, and used as a “blood bag”. At the same time Imperator Friosa, (Charlize Theron) one of Joe’s head lieutenants, is sent to collect gasoline in the “War Rig”, a heavily armored semi-truck. When she drives off course Joe realizes that his five wives, woman that have been taken by Immortan Joe for breeding War Boys, he leads his whole army to pursue Friosa and the chase is on. From the first moments of this movie till the very end it is packed full of action. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself forgetting to breathe because if feels like there are never any breaks.
The film was a box office smash making $378.4 million on a $150 million budget. With a sequel already being produced under the working title of Mad Max: The Wasteland, and Tom Hardy confirming to Esquire magazine that he was attached to the series for three additional movies. Hopefully well be getting more of an insight into the lifeless world and the Citadel after the events of Fury Road. Also in a great marketing stunt Vertigo released four prequel comics, which share the stories of Nux, (Nicholas Hoult) Friosa, and Max.
Like most end of the world, post-apocalyptic movies the biggest theme is survival. Surviving this newly desolate planet that has very little hope and manly just trying to survive being hunted by a vicious militia. Another heavy theme throughout the film is redemption. Max is looking to redeem himself for his past. Friosa is looking to redeem herself and get back to a world that is more familiar and kind. Even Nux has a redemption arch. This film is also incredible empowering towards women, Imperator Friosa and an absolute badass throughout the whole movie. She also wasn’t sexualized or objectivized she was a strong independent character that is really the catalos for the whole film. Matter of fact all of the sane and good-hearted characters in the film are females.
This film is one of a kind. This is a prime example of when a filmmaker works on a film with such passion and control on every level and with a passionate and loyal team and how amazing it can turn about. Because the filmmaker doesn’t have to make any drastic sacrifices or losing the vision of the film through people taking control that don’t see eye to eye with you. Fortunately for all of us George Miller was able to make a masterpiece that will live on in cinematic history forever. Here’s hoping the next three are just as great.
