jack’s review published on Letterboxd:
Timeless action. Timeless themes. It’s an uprising against a grotesque feudal-fascist state in a derelict world prone to despair. It’s a journey to take back autonomy from oppressors, fighting slavery and misogyny in a world that has little left to fight for: a world that is oppressive by nature, where that state of being is the only one many know.
“Sooner or later, someone pushes back!”
Mad Max: Fury Road is George Miller’s fully realized vision. It’s the best of his Wasteland. Miller builds a full world, a compelling storyline, and the best action sequences you’ve ever seen. He delivers it with fantastic cinematography and editing, and it’s set to an incredibly fitting score. From the first six minutes’ quick-timed action scene to the massive wideshots of the post-apocalyptic expanse, it’s a beautiful, perfectly executed action film and a wild ride.
Every character has importance, and even the smaller characters grow in some way. Max is at his most complete and yet also most unique in the franchise. He’s also arguably at his best.
“How much more can they take from me? They take my blood, and now they take my car.”
Furiosa is a badass and complimentary addition to the franchise, fitting in perfectly alongside Max. Practically, he’s really a vessel to tell her story. He doesn’t take a backseat to his own movie, but she’s the driving force in a story brought on by her own ambitions. Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy are both spectacular, as is the entire cast.
Immortan Joe isn’t just a warlord of the road but a feudal lord of fascist proportions too. He controls the means of production for every resource. He controls the minds of his people, maintaining a religious dogma that keeps him on top. He’s a figure of myth, invincible to his lower-caste until proven otherwise.
Mad Max: Fury Road can be taken as allegorical, intelligent, and symbolic, but it’s also just perfect, fun action. It was an instant classic on release in 2015, and it remains so nearly a decade later. Not only is it my favorite of the franchise, it’s also just my favorite action movie ever.
Besides, who doesn’t love a good makeup-covered freak role for Nicholas Hoult? That’s what he seems best at. And who doesn’t love a bunch of badass women? I really appreciate that each of the “wives” are their own characters and complete their own miniature arcs throughout the film. It would have been easy not to do that, and maybe it was easy to do, but it’s definitely an important thing that is done.
There’s a lot more to get out of this movie, but the action, humor, and emotion would be enough on its own.
Also, I love the taglines for this movie. I just wish the posters were better.
