It’s 1945 in Nazi Germany and an American tank nicknamed Fury makes its way across the rocky terrain in an effort to help liberate the world from the rule of the ruthless Adolf Hitler. Headstrong tank commander, Don Collier (Brad Pitt) must determine the best possible way to do his job (killing Nazis) and protect his crew. His seemingly motley crew will do what they can to protect one another and the man that brought them together, while finding solace in eliminating those who stand in the way of freedom.
Ensemble casts are becoming more and more popular as the demand for A+ films becomes stronger than ever. Casting a series of the most prominent players in Hollywood has become almost necessary for major studios as they compete with one another for cash and fame. Sony Pictures, when putting together the cast for Fury, certainly had this in mind as they casted, alongside Pitt, Michael Peña (Trini Garcia), Shia LaBeouf (Boyd Swan), Jon Bernnthal (Grady Travis) and Logan Lerman (Norman Ellison). Each of the aforementioned actors has found fame; they have attracted audiences in one way or another, and when their name is mentioned, audiences know to expect superior acting. While Fury did not make the kind of money that the world has come to expect from films of this caliber, everything that audiences might expect from this cast and crew--writer-director David Ayer included--comes to fruition. Each actor, even the ones not mentioned here, deliver in every facet of the film, and keep audiences on the edge of their seats for nearly the entire film.
Ayer’s writing and directing appeals to audiences and allows them to see all sides of war and the heart, soul, blood, sweat and tears that goes into it. What appeals most about Fury to audiences is Lerman’s character, Norman. Very similar to the famed Upham (Jeremy Davies) in one of the most popular war films of all time, Saving Private Ryan, Norman is new to the war and is incredibly green. His innocence resonates with audiences and allows them to see the toll that war takes on those involved. While everyone performs well, Lerman is exceptional in his portrayal of the hate, anger and distress that often overcomes those who must face the harsh realities of war. His role alone is enough to attract audiences. To date, this is Lerman’s best performance, and he deserves all the praise he receives for it.
It can be incredibly difficult to find beauty in a film that depicts such horrific events, but director of photography Roman Vasyanov ensures that audiences are able to see the stunning juxtaposition of the vivid images and the bloody landscape of war. The imagery brings this genre of film to life like I have only seen in Saving Private Ryan. Audiences feel like they are are there, and they are truly able to sympathize for the people involved in the liberation from Nazi Germany. Not enough can be said about how Ayer and the film crew bring World War II to life and provide audiences with enough, through just the imagery, to allow them to appreciate everything taking place in the film.
David Ayer is best known for his 2016 film Suicide Squad, but Fury is where Ayer shines the brightest. His writing, his characters and his overall development of the ever-brilliant story engages audiences and keeps them attached to the story and the characters. The camaraderie and the character development brought me close to tears on numerous occasions. Ayer and the cast’s ability to feed on the audiences’ emotions to this degree is truly incredible. As the film comes to a close and the story wraps up, it’s nearly impossible not to feel for the characters involved. It seems impossible to describe the emotions that Ayer taps into, but he does a wonderful job of drawing those emotions to the surface. Fury is a one-of-a-kind film that never misses a beat and always finds ways to reinvigorate audiences as it progresses. Ayer and his cast (particularly Lerman) are nearly perfect, and Fury is an endless adrenaline rush.
Written & Directed by David Ayer. Starring Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña, Jon Bernthal, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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