Movie Breakdown: Mad Max: Fury Road

People are doing traditional-style reviews all over the web, so we decided to try something different.  In each “breakdown” we’ll take a look at what a film’s marketing led us to believe, how the movie actually played, and then what we learned from it all.  Read on!

The Impression:

George Miller and Mad Max are back together.  Fury Road looks big and fun.

The Reality:

Mad Max: Fury Road scrambled by brain.  I went in fully hoping (and suspecting) that it would be a wild time, and I still ended up caught off guard by just how bug nuts, batshit crazy it is from start to finish.  So what all happens?  Well, I think I mostly got it.  A mentally shaky Max (played by Tom Hardy, who turns in what could be his best or worst performance ever) gets caught, he then unwillingly ends up in the longest car chase ever, some unexpected alliances are formed, and then the movie is done.  Or, at least that’s how my first viewing felt.  I’m guessing there’s more to it, but when I think back on Fury Road the only bits my brain can serve up are crazy vehicles, crazy costumes, crazy stunts, crazy vehicles, crazy imagery, crazy performances, crazy vehicles, and my wife repeatedly looking over at me with a “this is some crazy shit” look on her face. It’s all so mad, man.  The whole damn thing.  I can’t wait to see it again so that I can maybe breathe and notice something other than the spectacle punch that the film repeatedly throws.  Also, in future viewings it’ll just be fun to glance over and see one of you sitting next to me with your mouth agape as you take in the spectacular insanity that is Mad Max: Fury Road.  See you at the theater.

The Lesson:

If only all directors had the crazy side that George Miller does.