The problem that comes with David Ayer films is the fact that all of them focus so much on the characters that they forget to build the atmosphere. Sure that's not a bad thing. His cop movies have been fantastic. However Training Day boasts an Oscar winning performance but it's shallow because the world is not built up. Ayer in his film End of Watch fixed this problem with one simple thing. He made the film so intense, and thrilling that it covered up the fact that the film is missing something. That's what he does with Fury,and you know what he succeeded. For all the problems that I think are in this film the movie covers them up. The film is pretty much we follow Logan Lerman, and Brad Pitt, and some other guys in a Sherman Tank near the end of WWII. Lerman plays Norman who is new to the tank, and the film makes up his experiences. Pitt plays Wardaddy the commanding officer of a tank called Fury. The other people are stock characters that are supported by really good actors. I say good actors because while they are kind of cannon fodder (especially when you reach the end) they are still incredibly well acted, and you connect with them. Speaking of connecting the film works also in the way that it truly allows you to connect with Norman. He throughout his short number of days on Fury will see the horrors of war, and will learn to kill. This is where a big surprise came for me. The men more force him to learn how to kill, not some dire situation. These people in the tank are not actually good guys. These people are kind of insane. This all comes into play in the first act, and the film always handles it well. The second act takes place in a captured town, and allows stuff to slow down, but I'll elaborate on that later. It's good that the film has that slow point because then the third act swings around, and everything goes to hell. The film is predictable, c'mon you know what happens at the end of this film, but if it just doesn't go out in the best way possible. I have to mention that before I said that David Ayer films lack in atmosphere, and sense of place. That's the same here. The film however is entertaining enough to make up for most of that. The action in this film is just about the best you will get all Fall. The tank on tank battles are really something, and the incredible amount of violence propels the film into the shock value that also makes it effective. I often watch a war movie, and wonder why the characters are reacting in a shocked way. I mean most movies just don't show a really good reason. This film you go right with the soldiers (mainly Lerman's character) through all of the shocking shit that you have to do during a war. The violence is brutal, and vicious, and by the end of the first half of the film you are just about worn out. Not in the way of being sick of the violence it's just you are shocked as well as you're just about out of adrenaline. The slow section I mentioned before has a really nice slow burn to it. It also has some touching stuff in it. Yes there is a girl, and yes stuff happens, but the way it's played is interesting because you are not exactly sure whether or not the characters are in the right with the actions that they commit. I don't really know. Than with a relentless explosion of violence much like in End of Watch (except longer so good) the third act comes to leave you dazed. That's not a bad thing though. The third act is so intense that I still had the rush long after I left the theatre,but your grandparents patriotic war movie this is not. Fury in this final fight more than earns it's "R" rating. The pulse pounding beat of the music, and the savagery of the events on screen. It really is something to behold. Fury is a really good war movie. Sure it's predictable, and lacks a sense of place, but it has solid performances, touching moments, and shockingly effective violence. This is my first movie of Fall movie season (Can't go see Gone Girl unfortunately), and I'm really excited for what is to come. I give Fury a 9 out of 10.
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December 2017
CategoriesAuthorHello welcome to FilmAnalyst. My name is Stephen Tronicek, and I really like movies. This is a way to get my opinions out to people. Thank you for visiting. |