REVIEW: ‘Furiosa’ is positively fantastic

No Mad Max? No problem.

While “Furiosa” does in fact take place in the “Mad Max” universe, the character portrayed by Mel Gibson originally and then by Tom Hardy in 2015’s “Fury Road,” isn’t present. Instead, as the title implies, the film centers on the other main character from the 2015 picture, Furiosa.

The film chronicles how she was initially abducted by a biker warlord named Dementus (Chris Hemsworth), and later became a mainstay at the Citadel where Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme) resides. Over the course of the film, she’s portrayed by Alyla Browne in her youth and Anya Taylor-Joy later in life.

The odyssey of Furiosa is a marvelous cinematic experience. Director George Miller returns to the “Mad Max” series for the fifth time, but gives audiences an experience in the dystopian universe unlike any before.

Instead of an adventure for the titular character where he plays a pivotal role in a conflict he came across in the wasteland, “Furiosa” is a harrowing, thrilling and action-packed origin story. It’s an epic, powerful tale of a person growing up through Hell and surviving while boldly keeping her resolve.

It’s a great move by Miller to explore the “Mad Max” universe in a refreshing way, while also expanding on a great character from the last entry, “Fury Road.” Furiosa is a strong character, and knowing who she eventually becomes enhances the experience of watching her grow up in this film, turning into the brave hero viewers are familiar with.

In addition to the gripping experience of Furiosa’s origin story, the film also builds more of the “Fury Road” world, giving more insight into Immortan Joe’s empire. With that said, even those who haven’t watched “Fury Road” or the “Mad Max” films in general can still enjoy this as a great dystopian action flick.

When it comes to the titular character herself, credit has to go to both Browne and Taylor-Joy. There’s a flawless consistency in their performances, making the transition from the early part of the character’s life to her time as a young woman seamless .

The actresses, Taylor-Joy especially, are also able to portray how Furiosa’s experiences hardened her for the wasteland and her drive to carry on. Taylor-Joy also manage to show how despite becoming a fierce warrior, she still held onto a code and sense of honor, making it believable that she became the hero she was in “Fury Road.”

For as good of a job the lead actresses do, though, Chris Hemsworth manages to steal a lot of scenes as the chaotic antagonist Dementus. It’s certainly one of Hemsworth’s best performances as he injects an immense amount of anarchic energy and wit into the character. His work not only creates a good villain for Furiosa, but an interesting rival for Immortan Joe as well.

Another new character to the franchise that’s a plus is Praetorian Jack, played by Tom Burke. He’s somewhat reminiscent of Max himself in the sense that he’s a mostly quiet, ruthless warrior on the road while also still maintaining some morals. He’s a solid mentor character for Furiosa and Burke does fine work portraying the character.

In addition to the fine characters, backed by a strong cast, and compelling hero’s journey, “Furiosa” is also, as expected from Miller, a technical marvel. The movie is absolutely arresting visually, full of style and flair, with every piece of action and character struggle captured by the camera and finely edited together.

“Furiosa” is an impeccably well-made action drama. It’s a suspenseful and emotional experience that is captivating throughout. Perhaps a tad long and not as tightly compact as its predecessor from 2015, Miller’s latest is still a slam dunk overall and absolutely worth checking out for its quality and entertainment value. 4.75 out of 5.

Author: Matthew Liedke

Journalist and film critic in Minnesota. Graduate of Rainy River College and Minnesota State University in Moorhead. Outside of movies I also enjoy sports, craft beers and the occasional video game. View all posts by Matthew Liedke