Directed by: David Ayer
Genre: War
Running time: 134 minutes
Released: 2014
Produced by Le Grisbi Productions
In April 1945, the Allies are making their final push in the European theater. A battle-hardened Army sergeant named Don “Wardaddy” Collier (Brad Pitt), leading a Sherman tank and a five-man crew, undertakes a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Hopelessly outnumbered, outgunned and saddled with an inexperienced soldier (Logan Lerman) in their midst, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds as they move to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany.
Fury is an interesting war movie the likes of which I haven’t seen in a while. It does a great job at distinguishing itself from the plethora of World War II films. Fury focuses on a tank crew and plays on the evils of war. While this is an overdone concept in war films, the gritty undertone of the film really played on its action and themes and, combined with some exceptional acting, made for a great film.
The crew of the tank, Fury, is made up of battle-hardened veterans that have fought in Africa, France, Belgium, and presently Germany. Now mere weeks away from the end of World War II, the fighting is still going on as Hitler has resorted to total warfare, forcing everyone, including women and children, to put up a last ditch effort. The newest member of the crew is Norman Ellison, who has only been in the army for eight weeks. Though he joined the army as a typist, he is forced to take the place of the Fury’s bow gunner. Norman must shape up and become another battle-hardened soldier or put the entire crew of the Fury at risk as they undertake a suicide mission that puts them deep behind enemy lines.
Sgt. Don “Wardaddy” Collier, played by Brad Pitt, is the captain of the Fury. Pitt does a great job in his role. Wardaddy is a deep and complex character. On one hand, he is a hardened killer; on the other hand, he is a broken man suffering from trauma. He has forgotten the man he once was before the war and is willing to go to any lengths for his crew. However, Wardaddy acts as a father figure for Norman, partially for Norman’s sake and partially for his own sake to keep himself in touch with his humanity. In one scene, he forces the new recruit Norman to shoot a defenseless Nazi to shape him up as a soldier, yet in another scene, Wardaddy attempts to create a picture of civilization when he and Norman discover a German woman and her cousin hiding in an apartment. Instead of assaulting them, he gives them food, and they enjoy a short moment of peace with a short dance. These highlight the two sides of the character that is Wardaddy.
Overall, Fury is a great film. While its themes and its core identity are not the most original, as there are countless gritty war films detailing the horrors of war, Fury is very well made and the acting in it is incredible. I would recommend Fury strongly to any fans of war films.
Author: Austin
Austin enjoys reading fantasy books and watching a variety of films from actions to dramas. In his free time, he can be found gaming.
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