Review of Fury (2014) by Scowly X — 29 Jun 2018

A claustrophobic tank based war film.

Director David Ayer wrote and directed this intense war movie entirely centered in an American tank during World War II. The characters are surprisingly complex and develop as Fury reaches its brutal conclusion. The close up shots and wide shots are really beautifully framed.

I think Brad Pitt gives a highly respectable performance as the leader of this tank unit. Shia LaBeouf also gives his best acting yet in Fury. They impressed me the most in the cast. Jason Issacs has a nice cameo as an American commander as well. The rest of this ensemble plays their part, but are not as memorable.

The music swells in a terrifying whirl of sound as Fury's grim lighting illuminates the horrors of war. Fury is gritty and realistic as you follow along multiple tank encounters. You are shoved into the tank's cramped compartments and little spaces with these characters. The cinematography is jaw dropping throughout the battles but then steps back when they are out of combat zones. Fury contains some of the most realistic and detailed wartime set designs for the German landscape and town side. The costumes are period correct and finely tuned to make each character look unique.

I only wish Fury were a little shorter and less contrived during the German town segment wherein soldiers are sleeping with the local German girls. It's awkward and awful and ruins the tone of the movie as it slows down the narrative immediately. Without this entire sequence you'd lose major character development, but it does feel like it hurts Fury's moral statements. You do see American and German troops vilified and humanized alike.

In short, I think Ayer made his best film with Fury. War movie fans will be thrilled with Fury's suspenseful onslaught, while other audiences will be engaged by the great acting and compelling story. Fury is a great war film in its own right.