Insane. Out of control. Completely unhinged. A masterpiece. All of those could rightfully describe George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road. Every generation a film comes along that seems to literally be from the future. Movies that are crafted so meticulously, that the audience doesn’t feel like they are watching a movie, they are simply experiencing it. In recent history, movies such as The Matrix, The Dark Knight, The Raid: Redemption, and even Avatar, showed the world a new way to visually tell a story, which forced every movie released after it…to keep up. You can now officially add Mad Max: Fury Road to the list of action greats.

There is no need to have seen a previous Mad Max movie to enjoy Fury Road. The narrative connections between the previous films are very loose, aside from his backstory that can be summed up in a sentence. However, for those who have seen the originals, it does add another layer of giddy satisfaction revisting Miller’s world in such a vivid fashion. It feels familiar, yet more visceral than ever before. 

Tom Hardy takes over the Mad Max mantle from Mel Gibson and the role fits him effortlessly. It is easy to overlook the nuance needed to play the character, who rarely speaks and is haunted by unspeakable trauma. As is often the case, Max’s heroism doesn’t always come from his selflessness, but from his ability to survive. He is often the victim of the decayed world, whose inhabitants have lost all inhibitions and who values do not reflect modern society. 

The significance of the film’s title becomes immediately apparent when Charlize Theron’s Furiosa enters. As her name implies, she puts the fury in Fury Road and it is truly her story being told. She begins the movie as the vile Immortan Joe’s lieutenant who is tasked with delivering a tanker of gas across the post-apocalyptic wasteland. She has her own plan however, to liberate Joe’s “wives” who are stowed away in the rig. The women are being used solely as objects for breeding, which introduces a surprisingly complex post-modern look at feminism, that is interwoven into the fabric of the film. Theron shines as the true heroine of the movie. She is fearless and driven by an unknown motivation, that proves to be heartbreaking.

Miller’s command of action is second to none. He films each sequence with a high level of geographical clarity that allows you to know exactly what is going on during the frantic action. His dynamic usage of space and camera angles really draws the viewer into the madness. In addition, the real world stunt work is what really puts this movie over the top. Sure there is occasional CGI flames spitting out of the exhaust, but the tumbling cars and violent wrecks have a certain amount of weight and realness that further raises the stakes. 

The cinematography by John Seale (Rain Man, Harry Potter) is awe-inspiring, who Miller allegedly coaxed out of retirement to shoot this film. However, what makes this movie great is not just the revolutionary visuals. It is also the attention to details and the complete world that has been crafted, complete with a tribal language, a new religion, and a complex society built around Immortan Joe’s stranglehold on the water and gasoline supply. It is hard to not mention the pulse pounding score as well, which is literally part of the action in a way that maybe has never been seen before in movies. The unforgettable score is handled by Junkie XL, who will be handling the Batman theme for the next year’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which is yet another reason to get excited. The music literally drives the engine of this film, adding yet another layer of flavor and tension.

Although it is easy to get distracted by the enormous spectacle of the movie, Miller manages to pack in a considerable amount of character growth and subtext for what could have been a totally mindless adventure. The precision craftsmanship and never seen before images, truly make this a must-see film and already one of the best action movies of the decade. This is a complete and self-contained story that really raises the bar for action filmmaking. Mad Max: Fury Road is one man’s vivid nightmare come to life. And what a magnificent dream it is. 

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