George Miller’s ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ breathed new life into the road weary franchise, not only becoming a genuine blockbuster at the box office but also a Best Picture nominated film at the Academy Awards. Hearing then that Miller would follow-up his hit with a prequel instead of a sequel was therefore a bit surprising. However, Tom Hardy’s largely silent Max really wasn’t the center of the titular film as he once would have been, so when it was announced the prequel would be of Furiosa, played so wonderfully by Charlize Theron, there were a lot of collective nods from critics and film fans alike. Still as with any prequel Miller would have to earn our interest, as we knew so much of what to expect from future events. Fortunately Miller pulled it off with an excellent prequel and yet again another strong entry in this multi-decade franchise.
‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ begins with a young Furiosa playing with her sister Valkryie in the Green Place where they live. Young Furiosa happens upon some raiders who have found their hidden grove, and so she attempts to foil the raiders return by sabotaging their bikes. Unfurtonately for her however they successfully abscond with Furiosa to their boss Dementus’s encampment. Fortunately none of the raiders present in the Green Place lived; however, word still spread to Dementus. Meanwhile Furiosa’s Mom, who came to rescue Dementus, was captured as well with tragic results. As increasingly horrific events occur in the wasteland, both to Furiosa and those she cares about, she has to toughen herself up to survive and hopefully one day take revenge out on Dementus and all who wronged her and her family.
Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa in ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Furiosa’s journey through adolescence to the fighter we know she becomes in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ is certainly the core throughline, and the reason we’re presumably given this story by Miller. Afterall we know Furiosa eventually works for Immortan Joe; however, why does she work for him, why is Immortan Joe comparatively weak (or seemingly so) in Mad Max: Fury Road, and why is Furiosa so crushed at her third act discovery in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’? These questions all tie in to Furiosa’s arc and the power struggle that looms large between rogue raiders, Dementus, and Immortan Joe. Such a power struggle in the past could’ve been its own movie in the Mad Max world, but by centering the story on Furiosa though, a character we may not know much about; however, have affinity for, I think we’re given a more engaging lead to follow and root for.
Furiosa is performed by two actresses in the film, the youngest iteration of Furiosa by Alyla Browne, and of course Anya Taylor-Joy as the young adult version. Neither is given many spoken words (which has created some debate); however, both excellently use the power of acting with their face and eyes especially to convey all that is needed. I think if I’d been told how late Taylor-Joy’s Furiosa was to be introduced prior to seeing the film I’d have been disappointed; however, Browne’s skills in particular proved why Miller’s turned to her for now a second film of his, after she was cast in his film ‘Three Thousand Years of Longing’.
Chris Hemsworth as Dementus in ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ (Warner Bros. Pictures)
One actor who is given more than his share of speeches and pontificating is Chris Hemsworth. Hemsworth gives one of his best performances I’ve seen of him in this role, as he successfully shows that Dementus, despite his bravado and cruelty, is himself like so many in this world just a scared child turned adult trying to survive. Miller’s Mad Max franchise has always demonstrated the old adage ‘hurt people hurt people’, and even though its in more twisted ways than one usually imagines, it shows why revenge begets revenge and then some.
Miller’s Mad Max franchise would be little more than a Walking Dead-like drama if it weren’t for the iconic car chases, and of that we’re given plenty. I counted nearly a half-dozen full on chases, and Miller delights yet again in upping the scale of these by presenting some incredible set pieces including one in Bullet Town and one prior on the way in-between the three fortresses. Though I always commend seeing films in theaters when its possible (for your budget, health, and all), these scenes really would make that ticket price all the more worth it. (I saw it on a large homescreen, and I wished I had caught it in time to see these scenes in the megaplex.)
Its incredible to imagine that a director, even as strong as George Miller has been, can still make such magic in a familiar franchise now 45 years later, let alone to do it twice. However, if Mad Max: Fury Road, and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, have proved anything, he’s still got plenty of guzzoline in the tank.
