The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Review Request: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

How does a filmmaker follow up arguably the greatest action film ever created? Dr. George Miller started his long and illustrious film career back in the late 70s when he was an emergency room doctor. Witnessing so much carnage from the highways sparked something in him and got him the idea of the first ever Mad Max film. But all these decades later, Miller is still the master of one of the greatest worlds ever created on film…The Wasteland. Miller came back to this insane world to explore the backstory of the real MVP of Mad Max: Fury Road…Imperator Furiosa. Charlize Theron (who gave an awards worthy turn in Fury Road) would not be back this time around, but audiences would be treated to a younger Furiosa as she is kidnapped at a young age and lost in a mad world of eccentric warlords, gasoline, and weapons.

How does Furiosa stand up next to the iconic modern classic of Fury Road? There are some key differences between them for sure. Fury Road was a two-hour thrill ride that found depth amongst the action. Furiosa is a two-and-a-half-hour film, and it certainly is not all action. The action in it is incredible but most of the runtime is dedicated to character moments and developing the journey of our titular protagonist. There are more outward story beasts and missions instead of being a giant chase sequence. Miller certainly relies plenty on computer generated effects in Fury Road, but it becomes even more obvious in Furiosa. There are some shots where the CGI does not look the best but overall, the effects are top tier and go to great lengths to make Furiosa look real. There are some strong effects moments for sure. There might be plenty more action in Fury Road but the moments in Furiosa where the action takes center stae and will blow your socks off (i.e. the siege of Bullet Farm as well as the Octoboss’s act on the War Rig).

Why does the action still hit so hard in Furiosa? Miller is a master and genius when it comes to action on screen. There is a specific approach he utilizes to make the most of action. Always anchor with a focal point. If you watch closely, you can see exactly where Miller is intending for his camera to be. The way cinematographer Simon Duggan works the camera and leads it through Miller’s vision is quite precise. The camera is exactly where it is supposed to be and moves in the most intentional ways. The way the camera hits its focal points through long takes, pans, zooms, and such creates a dynamic presentation. There is never a boring shot in the film (in general) and especially when something action oriented is happening. There is a richness of color and boldness in shot composition as well. The torture of Furiosa’s mother in the reflection of her eye is one of the hardest and most poignant shots in any film this year. Tom Holkenborg’s score is less fresh and less prominent in this film (compared to Fury Road) but it still accomplishes the atmosphere and tension building.

How does Furiosa navigate the origin story of our young protagonist? This is a film that is scaled and structured as an epic. We get chapters and a story told over the course of 10+ years. We are dropped right into the action with a young Furiosa (Alyla Browne) being kidnapped but the ruthless brutes of Dementus’ gang. The first chapter of the film introduces the swaggering and impulsive warlord portrayed by Chris Hemsworth. Each chapter finds Furiosa growing through her interactions with some adults in her life. First, her mother. Then Dementus and The History Man (George Shevtsov). She then spends years in the service of the fascist dictator of Fury Road fame, Immortan Joe (now portrayed by Lachy Hulme). We see familiar faces like The People Eater (John Howard), the Organic Mechanic (Angus Sampson), Rictus Erectus (Nathan Jones) and the newly introduced brother of Rictus, Scrotus (Fury Road alumnus Josh Helman). But it is in the companionship of the Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke) that Furiosa finds her truest nature and sense of hope. This is an epic and sprawling tale of revenge as Furiosa wants blood…specifically the blood of Dementus. You can traverse this whole epic and enjoy the insanity and thrills for sure. But it is in the final confrontation between Furiosa and Dementus that the true meaning and purpose of Furiosa and this film finds its identity. Few films can deliver such an effective climax that recontextualizes the whole film and helps you realize just how incredible the film you just watched truly is.

What are the elements that ground the audience in this insane world of madness? Miller did A+ work crafting the perfect cast to breathe life into this film. Browne delivers a star-making performance as the young Furiosa. She is saddled with leading over half this film and this young woman succeeds in creating a stoic, silent, and looming presence. But Anya Taylor-Joy roars onto screen with her intensity, power, and confidence. The facial expressions and looks that Taylor-Joy delivers invoke so much emotion. The most exciting and fun turn of events from Furiosa is that Hemsworth delivers a career defining performance. The nose. The accent. The mania. Hemsworth rocks it all to provide one of the most unique and thoroughly entertaining antagonists on film this year. But it is the emotional depth and trauma that makes this performance even more interesting. Burke shows that he can be the strong, intense, honorable warrior of The Wasteland. Furiosa shows that he could have easily been cast as Max himself and he would have done an amazing job. The film is filled with top notch character actors who do so much work to make this world feel authentic in the face of the wild insanity of it all. Shevtsov provides some grounded depth to this world as The History Man (the link to our world before the fall). Hulme slides right in and provides the presence needed to sell a character like Immortan Joe.

Where does Furiosa fit into the greater Mad Max saga? This is the most unique story as a film because it is less about simplicity and action and more about the mythos that tower over The Wasteland. Furiosa was a character introduced in Fury Road and captured the hearts and imaginations of the audience. Miller knew this character struck a chord and decided to deliver a sprawling epic to add depth to her struggle and journey while adding thematic layers to this wild world he created back in the 1970s. There is a filmmaking craftsmanship that is hard to comprehend because Miller is just that talented. Furiosa will not be the type of film that grabs you in quite the same immediate way that Fury Road did. After three viewings, there is a richness and depth to everything that Miller crafted in his latest venture into The Wasteland and audiences and fans are lucky to have such an epic like Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga in our lives.

Special thanks to Haley Johnston for the nomination of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga!