Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is playing in theaters at the time of writing. Directed by George Miller. Rated R. Common Sense says 16+.
Furiosa (Anya Taylor- Joy) is a young girl growing up in a small, secret patch of paradise in the apocalyptic wastelands. One day she is kidnapped by the evil warlord Dementius (Chris Hemsworth). She then sets forth on an epic battle for escape and revenge.
STORY: A
A coming of age film full of flames, diesel, and all-time classic action sequences.
Finding a random action sequence stuck in the middle of a humdrum flick always brings me joy. Action scenes never need justification in my book.
But when the action and the story combine to create something new, something greater than themselves (the way chocolate and peanut butter do in a Reese’s), it can transform in a religious experience (the way eating a Reese’s can).
THE SCOOP: Check out Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’s IMDb page, here.
PEOPLE: A+
Put both Anya Talyor-Joy’s and Chris Hemsworth's faces on the Mad Max Mt Rushmore.
Anya Taylor-Joy’s performance is the equivalent of driving 300 yards off the tee with your putter. Her petite frame provides her a simmering savagery, the same kind that small, sneering kid on the playground - the kid that nobody would ever dare mess with - has.
Hemsworth is a vicious, vaudevillian delight. His Dementius rides in the company of the best baddies of the 21st century.
CAST PARTY: Check out Letterboxd’s interview with Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor-Joy, here. (5 mins)
FILM NERD STUFF: A+
George Miller pushes the possibilities of cinematic action forward, again.
It’s not often you watch a film and say to yourself, “I didn’t know somebody could do that.” It’s even rarer to watch a film where you say it to yourself over and over again. Those are the moments you never forget, and the ones that keep you coming back to the big screen time and time again.
DIRECTOR’S CUT: Check out George Miller discussing how he shoots action on Letterboxd, here. (7 mins)
ELECTIVE CLASS (Your Worth Is Not Found In Your Bank Account): A
Its low opening weekend box office doesn’t reflect this movie’s lofty achievements.
We often believe that money is a reliable indicator of quality. That the more money a person makes, the smarter they must be. That the more money a product makes, the better it must be. That the more money a film makes, the better it must be.
That type of thinking is very, very often false.
At the time of writing, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga has officially flopped at the box office. Do not let its disappointing (and baffling, frankly) opening weekend fool you. This is a film of staggering perfection.
FINAL COMMENTS:
I am a person who believes that diversity makes things better. It’s true for your stock portfolio, it’s true for your diet & fitness routine, and it’s true for the Mad Max franchise.
If the only reason you’re skipping Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is because it centers on a female character, you’re going to miss a spectacular film (and most likely many of the other wonderful things this world has to offer).
Don’t let its low box office, the fact that it’s a prequel, or the outstanding Anya Taylor-Joy stop you from seeing this film on the biggest screen in town. Miller’s latest movie is as good as any he’s ever done, which is saying a lot.