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In the seven decades since the end of World War II, books and films have explored nearly every aspect and every angle—to the point that World War II movies have become almost passé. But in the brutal war drama Fury, writer/director David Ayer adds his own voice—and another perspective—to the genre.
This gritty World War II thriller stars Brad Pitt as Sergeant Don “Wardaddy” Collier, commander of a five-man tank crew stationed in the middle of Nazi Germany in the spring of 1945. After the tank’s assistant driver is killed in action, the crew is assigned a new one: rookie soldier Norman (Logan Lerman). Trained as a typist—and with only eight weeks of military experience—Norman isn’t prepared to face the true horrors of war. But with the crew setting out on their latest mission, he soon finds himself in the middle of enemy territory, where his only options are to kill or be killed.
In a way, Fury is like an ultra-violent coming of age story. Young, naive Norman becomes a man not over a long, lazy summer nor following a life-changing family vacation but during one terrifying and intense battle. He quickly learns that, in war, everything can change in the blink of an eye. One minute, you can be typing at a desk or enjoying a meal or sharing a laugh with your team, but you could very well be fighting for your life the next. It’s a hard-learned lesson for Norman, and Lerman does a remarkable job of portraying the character’s flood of emotions—the fear, the uncertainty, the determination, and even the acceptance. And though the young actor is surrounded by some talented co-stars, he definitely holds his own.
The other characters, meanwhile, offer their own perspectives on the war—from Michael Peña’s war-weary Gordo to Shia LaBeouf’s born-again Bible and even Jon Bernthal’s irreverent Coon-Ass. But, of course, it’s Pitt’s Wardaddy who gets the most development—the smart and resilient commander who leads by example and instills an unwavering sense of loyalty in his men. He’s hardened and blood-thirsty, but he hasn’t lost his humanity—and he’s perfectly paired with the reluctant young soldier.
It’s no surprise that Fury is an extremely manly kind of drama. Though they have their moments of weakness, pain, and fear, these men don’t sit around in their cramped living space talking about their feelings. Instead, they focus on things like honor and duty—on doing what’s right…and killing Nazis. It may not make for an especially emotional experience, but audiences will still be captivated by these five men and their deadly mission.
It may not add anything ground-breaking to the genre—and it may not become a World War II classic—but Fury is a gripping and intense war movie. The complex characters and the stars’ solid performances alone make it worth seeing—and the fierce battle scenes make it worth seeing on the big screen.
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