Fury (2014)

"...Anger Can Be Power"

David Ayers is far from my favorite writer or director. This year's "Sabotage" (another film he both wrote and directed) was silly, and far too gleefully violent for my tastes. That being said, he has finally made a film that feels personal, straying from his crooked cop formula that has been the staple of his career up to this point. "Fury" takes no joy in showing you the horrors of war, and gives a few great actors the chance to shine by not turning them into walking cliches. While Brad Pitt gives the performance I knew he would, and Jon Bernthal and Michael Pena were absolutely solid, it was Shia LeBeouf who stole the movie with a quiet portrayal of a southern born-again Christian trying to make sense of the Hell around him.

Though Ayers moves his protagonist, a young typist thrust into the tank crew after only 8 weeks in the service, along a little quickly, he introduces four very interesting characters to surround him. The grit and grime of the German front is captured beautifully by D.P. Roman Vasyanov. He moves his camera effortlessly from battle to battle, making the viewer feel like more than just a witness to the mayhem. The dialogue feels a little stiff in parts, and Steven Price's score is a bit out of place. It would honestly fit better in an Eli Roth horror film than a movie about WWII. This is the most solid work Ayers has done to date, and I would highly recommend a viewing.

Grade: B+
3D: N/A
Easter Egg: No

Starring: Brad Pitt, Shia Lebeouf, Michael Pena
Director: David Ayers
Writer(s): David Ayers
RT: 134 min
Rating: Rated R for strong sequences of war violence, some grisly images, and language throughout


Two Sentences:

The Dog (2013) - This documentary about the inspiration of the film "Dog Day Afternoon" is equal parts funny and bizarre. John Wojtowicz is a larger than life human being, who is captivating to the point of sheer entertainment. 

Grade: A

The Book of Life (2014) - Jorge R. Gutierrez made a fairly pleasant children's film that was filled with honest emotions, and had beautiful character relationships. The script could have used some work, some of the supporting characters could have used some work, and using modern pop songs in the story was a terrible idea.

Grade: C+

The Best of Me (2014) - The newest offering from the Nicholas Sparks catalog is essentially an amalgam of all of the other Nicholas Sparks stories. Some terrible acting, writing, and young actors who look like nothing like their older counterparts really make this close to unbearable to watch.

Grade: D+