Fury
Director: David Ayer
Cast: Brad Pitt, Logan Lerman, Shia LeBeouf, Michael Peña, Jon Bernthal, and Jason Isaacs.
Rated R for strong sequences of war violence, some grisly images, and language throughout.
"War never ends quietly." Director David Ayer really drives this fact home in his latest film, Fury. Ayer has been hit and miss with his directorial efforts, but he delivers arguably his best film to date with this story about an American tank crew who must push their way behind enemy lines in Nazi Germany at the end of World War II. Fury is an intense, yet compelling war drama that is able to feel fresh by showing audiences what it was like inside a tank during this pivotal time in history.
Brad Pitt stars in yet another war film, but his character is vastly different than his often hysterical Aldo Raine from Inglourious Basterds. Pitt plays Don "Wardaddy" Collier, the commander of a tank who is given orders to push their way through Germany to help end the war for good. The crew gets a new member by the name of Norman (an outstanding Logan Lerman) who was trained as a typist before receiving orders to join Wardaddy's crew. The men are not fond of their newest member, whose naivete may be enough to get them all killed.
Fury is a brutal film. It is quite possibly the dirtiest of any war film with its depictions of a grimy tank crew whose souls may be just as filthy as their outward appearance. Director David Ayer really hones in his skills as a director here with intense battle sequences that leave you mesmerized. Though this may be his dirtiest looking film, it may also be his best looking. The cinematography is quite effective and serves the story well, establishing a bleak tone that never wavers. Ayer, however, is not overly obsessed with just non-stop action. He takes his time in some of the film's quieter moments to not only play with different forms of tension, but also show some humanity in these otherwise tortured and dark characters. Ayer perhaps takes a little too long with a drawn out scene about halfway through that could have been directed and edited a bit more concisely. That scene aside, the director is in top form with most of the movie.
Brad Pitt is the real deal. It would be a big mistake to dismiss him simply because of either his good looks or his personal life. Regardless of what you think of Pitt as a person, he is one of the best actors we've ever had. He is so much more than just a pretty face or tabloid subject. In Fury, he takes on an often unlikable character and does so impeccably. He never forgets the character's humanity, but is also aware that he has a job to do, even if it is sometimes despicable. The real standout of the film, however, is young Logan Lerman. This young actor has been on my radar ever since he held his own against Christian Bale and Russell Crowe in the stellar 3:10 to Yuma. He was only a young teenager at the time, and he really is starting to come into his own now as a young man. Pitt may be the star, but Lerman is the heart of Fury. He gives a believable and an emotionally charged performance. He is a fine talent, and I look forward to seeing his career progress.
It may not have the resounding impact of say Saving Private Ryan, but Fury is an effective war drama that is not afraid to explore some of the darker aspects of war. It has real characters, plenty of palpable tension throughout, and some fine performances, particularly from Pitt and Lerman.
RATING: A-
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