Film Review: "Fury" (2014).

"Ideals are peaceful. History is violent." This line sums up this season's dark and gritty World War II Epic Fury. The film is written and directed by David Ayer (Street Kings (2008) and Sabotage (2014)). The story begins on April 1945. As the Allies make their final push in the European Theatre, a battle-hardened army sergeant named ‘Wardaddy’ commands a Sherman tank and his five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Out-numbered, out-gunned, and with a rookie soldier thrust into their platoon, ‘Wardaddy’ and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany.

The film stars Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Jon Bernthal, Michael Peña and Jason Isaacs. Pitt gave a brilliant in his second time in a WWII film (after Tarantino’s Inglorious Bastards) as US Army S/Sgt. Don "Wardaddy" Collier. Even though at age 50, Pitt is much older than the average noncommissioned officer in WWII, who would likely be in his early to mid 20s. Considering his age, choice of sidearm, and long service record mentioned in the film, it's entirely possible that his character is also a WWI veteran. Labeouf gave a fine performance as T/5 Boyd "Bible" Swan. LaBeouf reportedly went to the extent on this film by pulling out his own tooth and did not shower during filming. Lerman also gave a fine performance as Pvt. Norman "Machine" Ellison. Bernthal gave a great performance as Pfc. Grady "Coon-Ass" Travis. Like Pitt, this is not the first time Jon Bernthal has played a character in a WWII setting. He portrayed Marine Sergeant Manny Rodriguez in the award-winning HBO miniseries The Pacific (2010). Peña gave a terrific performance as Cpl. Trini "Gordo" Garcia. Finally Isaacs gave a great performance, even though his role was rather minor in this film. The cast themselves, like their on-screen counterparts, were like a band or family. Writer and director David Ayer had the actors fight each other on set before shooting scenes to tighten their bond. As well as having the cast undergo a rigorous month long course of boot camp, in which the final test was manning a real tank during a combat exercise. Despite being considerably older than his cast mates, Brad Pitt made sure that he participated in all of the physical training alongside the other actors. 

Anchored by another masterful performance from Pitt, Ayer's unflinchingly realistic war film Fury (2014), while it may not reinvent the wheel, but it further solidifies the genre's existence in cinema today. As well as having fine performances from almost every actor. It is one of the best-looking war movies ever made. In conclusion, the film is a well-acted, suitably raw depiction of the horrors of war. But it doesn't quite live up to its ambitions and was not enough to compete with the awesome reality of Empire of the Sun (1987), Saving Private Ryan (1998), The Thin Red Line (1998), Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), and even Inglorious Bastards (2009).

Simon says Fury Receives:

Also, see my review for Sabotage.