Grade: 90/100
The true horror of war is an idea that most average citizens can’t fully grasp, and few films have captured the concept.
But David Ayer’s new film is one of these select few.
Appropriately titled “Fury,” the film follows the lives of five brave tank operators during the height of World War II and the journey of insurmountable obstacles they face while trying to defeat the German army and SS.
Ayer’s directing — accompanied by the phenomenal acting of Brad Pitt, Logan Lerman, Michael Pena, Shia LeBeouf and Jon Bernthal — makes for a thrilling and horrifying adaptation of what life was like for the fighting American men of WWII.
Each scene is filled overpowering grief that tests the fiber of each character’s soul, while depicting the incredible yet equally monstrous things of which men are capable.
The characters of “Fury” show how men fighting side by side become family and true brothers united in a similar, greater cause.
Pitt embodies what it is to be a leader in times of chaos and confusion, while Lerman represents the young soldier not yet spoiled by the poisonous fruits of war but still on a path to inevitable moral demise.
Every character in the group is inherently distinctive, but they all complement one another marvelously.
“Fury” also brings to light a group of soldiers not usually featured as the leads in war films. The concept of depicting the lives of a tank crew is refreshing and brings a new angle to an otherwise spent story of American history.
The only aesthetic that takes away from the overall execution of the film is the use of green and red lights to distinguish enemy and friendly fire throughout the movie. Though it was a good idea on Ayer’s part, the clear color distinction is slightly distracting and reminds the viewer of a Star Wars-esque battle sequence.
Overall, “Fury” is a nail-biting drama filled with human emotion and sympathetic remorse for the brave men who gave their lives in the pursuit of freedom from the oppressive Nazi regime during one of the most graphic wars in human history.