Hi Kids! Do you like violence? Do you want to see what the next crazy thing coming from George Miller’s mind is? Apologies to Marshall Mathers, but that was stuck in my head since I saw a clip inserting Anya Taylor-Joy’s identifying statement from the trailer into the “Hi, My Name Is” music video. After watching the next trip to the Australian wastelands in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, that first question resonates marvelously!
Following the origins of Charlize Theron’s iconic role in Fury Road from child hostage to praetorian warrior and ultimately imperator, Furiosa packs about as much into a two-and-a-half-hour film as humanly possible without ever giving the audience more than a few beats of rest. I mean that in the best of ways.
George Miller has serious mental issues based on some of the things he creates, but I love how he brings them to the screen. The visuals within Furiosa continue Miller’s excellent brushstrokes of accentuating focus and settings surrounded by the drab brown of the desert. Every shot has meaning and intends (successfully for me) to encapsulate you within his universe. With the help of Collin Gibson returning as Production Designer, they are aiming to go 2 for 2 on the Oscar wins for the modern Mad Max Saga films. There are certain shots that became more obviously CGI, but the pieces required it to be that way. Similar to the War Rig crash or Doof warrior wreck in Fury Road, there is precedent for it to look good despite being unrealistic.
Something I would like to highlight before moving off of the film’s production is the sound department. Yes, the vehicular mayhem always sounds awesome, but the people I truly want to credit are the mixers. The way the sound filled voids or broke moments made it a living piece of the art to Furiosa and told its own stories within the narrative. This should be another Oscar contender, if not the victor come awards time.
To quote the aforementioned Theron, Anya Taylor-Joy (The Menu) is “one of the greatest F’n actresses” and absolutely kills it in the titular role, though Alyla Browne (Sting) deserves a metric ton (because Australia) of praise for her work as the child-aged Furiosa. Both actresses are so good that I genuinely think the movie was originally intended to be shorter and Miller chose to expand the narrative for them both to shine. It really could have been two movies based on how much there is to tell. I’d sign up for that, a mini-series, anything! They are so skilled and captivating in their deliveries.
Matching those performances is perennial hunk and part-time deity, Chris Hemsworth…as the most unhinged and insane character he has ever portrayed, The Great Dementus! He is electrifying and genuinely terrifying. Others might see this in the realm of an almost Joker-esque villain, but what it screamed to me was an homage in spirit to Hugh Keays-Byrne (d. 2020), who played Immortan Joe in Fury Road. Though that isn’t the role I am thinking of for the tribute, this dedication was meant for Toecutter, the original Mad Max villain Keays-Byrne played 45 years ago. A loose cannon leading a biker gang with a level of crazy that puts one on edge because there is no way to predict his next move. Somehow, Hemsworth did that all while being entirely believable…even with the nose. Hemsworth might garner some buzz from this movie the same way Heath Ledger surprised us years ago. Bonus point: if one of his lieutenants looks incredibly enamored with him, it is Elsa Pataky, in her second role of the movie.
Keeping the close brief: Go see Furosa: A Mad Max Saga once and you will want to go repeatedly. I already have multiple tickets to see it again and not just because I really want a motorcycle chariot. Please give us the chrome edition of this one too!
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