Mad Max: Fury Road-2015

Mad Max: Fury Road-2015

Director-George Miller

Starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron

Scott’s Review #287

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Reviewed November 20, 2015

Grade: C-

Having almost nothing to do with the original (and far superior) 1979 version of Mad Max, the 2015 Mad Max, sub-titled Fury Road (presumably for the endless car chases across the desert), looks great from a visual perspective, and the charisma of Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron is appealing, but the story is non-existent and the film grows tedious after the initial admiration I first felt for the camera-work and the dream-like vision the film possesses.

Initially, and admittedly, I was quite impressed with the film- a dreamlike, glossy- look makes it a fantasy that one can escape into, for sure.

However, after some time, I began growing tired of the visuals, rather viewing it as a somewhat video game, and instead of noticing the lack of story, which glared.

Sure, the thinly laid plot-line involved a rebel, Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy), escaping the War Boys, where he has been kept as a blood donor against his will, joined by Furiosa (Charlize Theron) and a group of young, beautiful females escaping a life of breeding.

The group joins forces to allude to Immortan Joe, who chases them throughout the barren desert as they strive to reach safety in the beautiful “Green Place”, a land of prosperity that Furiosa remembers from childhood.

But this synopsis is similar to countless other action or adventure tales that have come and gone without distinction.

Again, to compare to the original, I was expecting more from Mad Max: Fury Road, and I did not receive it.

The story, for what it’s worth, fails because there is no rooting value. Since the film is a fantasy, per se, I did not find much investment in the characters getting to the “Green Place”.The sweltering heat of the post-apocalyptic desert gives the film a roasting, tense look, and the action is almost non-stop.

Cartoon-like characters come and go, writhing on tops of cars or simply looking sinister with sneers and evil smirks, adding little to the story. Who are they? What is their purpose other than to look menacing?

I did take admiration in the character of Furiosa. With a buzz-cut and a bad-ass swagger, the character is no-nonsense and in control throughout the film.

Certainly an inspirational female character, she adds zest to the film, which, on the surface, seems male-dominated. A female that can inspire and impress in this day and age of film is reasoning enough for mention.

Inexplicably, the reviews for Mad Max: Fury Road, were positive and I just do not get that. My overall perspective disagrees with these findings. I do not mean to imply that the film is “run of the mill” in an overall critique. It’s not.

There are fits and starts of creativity, as the glossy look of the film is admittedly a treat and a spectacle, but, alas, without a compelling story this only goes so far before it begins to wear thin as an overall production.

Little chemistry or, frankly, much dialogue is found between Hardy and Theron- two top-notch talents in their own right. Rather, grunts and facial expressions run rampant between the pair. If the film was going for any kind of sexual connection between the two, especially given the hot, steamy desert atmosphere, this intention fell flat as I noticed none.

To admire visually, the latest Mad Max may be worth a glimmer, but as a film that contains the entire package, this one is not worth it’s salt.

Oscar Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director-George Miller, Best Sound Editing (won), Best Sound Mixing (won), Best Production Design (won), Best Cinematography, Best Makeup and Hairstyling (won), Best Costume Design (won), Best Film Editing (won), Best Visual Effects

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