George Miller’s latest instalment of the Mad Max franchise is here – Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Cannes Film Festival played host to the latest edition having been eagerly anticipated by fans of the franchise. So how would Miller follow arguably the greatest action film of the last decade, Mad Max: Fury Road? It seems that the answer is by removing Max from pretty much every aspect of the film, only leaving his name as part of the title, and focusing the film on how Fury Road’s stand-out character became the fiercest female in blockbuster cinema.
Anya Taylor-Joy stars as the younger Furiosa alongside Chris Hemsworth’s Dementus, after Charlize Theron burned through the screen as the one-armed driver who matched Max in ferocity and road skills last time out. The film begins with a thrilling first act where 10-year-old Furiosa (Alyla Browne, the lead in forthcoming mutant spider romp Sting) is captured by the biker minions of warlord Dementus after being snatched from her family in a lush oasis paradise. Hemsworth tackles Dementus with aplomb and brings the perfect amount of villainy to the character.
In the middle section, Furiosa travels with truck-driving Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke) between three inter-dependent caverns; the citadel where water exists and food can grow, Gas Town – a wasteland fuel depot that Dementus has claimed by force – and the Bullet Farm, an arms dump. Furiosa and Jack bond over their hardships as they face scores of robbers trying to stop them. Eventually, a Dementus double-cross and ensuing war engulfs the wasteland just as Jack and Furiosa’s bond is strengthening.
Miller, has collaborated with Fury Road co-writer Nico Lathouris, and re-teamed with his technical crew who won five Oscars last time out: production designer Colin Gibson, editor Margaret Sixel, sound mixer Ben Osmo, costume designer Jenny Beavan and hair and makeup artist Lesley Vanderwalt. The result is another visually stunning and immersive blockbuster juggernaut that in some sequences is even better than its predecessor.
Taylor-Joy has just 30 spoken lines of dialogue; some may argue that this lack of dialogue is a problem, but acting is not only about talking. Taylor-Joy’s expressive face and eyes do much of the heavy lifting here. Tom Burke is the biggest surprise of all, an unexpected delight as tough guy Jack. The film ends on an underplayed, thoughtful conclusion giving the whole piece an added dimension. Brilliant and unmissable, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is set to be a hit.
Details:
Director: George Miller
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Charlee Fraser
Release Date: May 24 (in cinemas)
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