AWFJ Movie of the Week, May 11-17: MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
Opening May 15, the AWFJ Movie of the Week is Mad Max: Fury Road, director George Miller’s high octane reboot of his 1979 post apocalyptic action classic. Tom Hardy (Locke, Child 44) steps into the lead role that originally made a star of Mel Gibson, his Max Rockatansky becoming a figurehead for revolution in a world where humanity has completely broken down. As gangs roam the arid desert landscape, fighting to the death for basic supplies, Max and fellow traveller Furiosa (Charlize Theron) pose an unlikely challenge to the blood-thirsty, sociopathic status quo. Read on…
The film’s trailer showcases some incredible action, with most of the effects being physical rather than computer generated, and while the film promises to be a bombastic start to the summer season its cast is also a huge draw. The teaming of the hugely talented Hardy and Theron – taking a strong, prominent role – hints at the fact this will be a blockbuster with brains, and who better to update this narrative for a modern audience than original director Miller (who this time co-writes with Brendan McCarthy and Nick Lathouris). With the film being a reboot rather than a straight remake, it looks set to introduce a whole new generation to Max while satisfying the legion of original fans.
AWFJ Movie of the Week Panelists Comments:
Pam Grady: Director George Miller attempts to reinvigorate his own franchise with Mad Max: Fury Road. With Tom Hardy taking over the titular character from Mel Gibson and partnering with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron, this looks to be an apocalyptic action thriller with brains as well as brawn.
MaryAnn Johanson: My pick is Mad Max: Fury Road, which looks like it might have a somewhat feminist bent (or else that aspect of the film is something that is going to drive me bonkers). Read review.
Jennifer Merin: Mad Max: Fury Road is the highly anticipated second coming of George Miller’s epic post-apocalyptic blockbuster, and this one’s femme-centric. Charlize Theron stars as Imperator Furiosa, the film’s boldly heroic protagonist. Read review.
Film Details:
Title: Mad Max: Fury Road
Director: George Miller
Release Date: May 15, 2015
Running Time: 120 minutes
Language: English
Shooting Location(s): Australia, Namibia, South Africa
Principal Cast: Charlize Theron, Megan Gale, Tom Hardy, John Howard, Nathan Jones, Nicholas Hoult, Zoe Kravitz, Richard Carter, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Riley Keough, Abbey Lee Kershaw, Courtney Eaton, Josh Helman, Jennifer Hagan, iOTA , Angus Sampson, Joy Smithers, Gillian Jones, Melissa Jaffer, Melita Jurisic
Screenwriter(s): George Miller, Brendan McCarthy, Nico Lathouris
Production Company: Kennedy Miller Productions (as Kennedy Miller Mitchell), Village Roadshow Pictures
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Official Website
Trailer
AWFJ Movie of the Week Panel Members: Nikki Baughan, Anne Brodie, Pam Grady, Leba Hertz, MaryAnn Johanson, Loren King, Cate Marquis, Katherine McLaughlin, Jennifer Merin, Nell Minow, Perri Nemiroff, Kristy Puchko, Sheila Roberts, Liz Whittemore, Jeanne Wolf.
Other Movies Opening the Week of May 11-15, 2015:
May 15
Mad Max: Fury Road
Area 51
Every Secret Thing
The Surface
Good Kill
Pitch Perfect 2
I’ll See You in My Dreams
Where Hope Grows
The Connection
Slow West
Time Lapse
Absolution
In the Name of My Daughter
Echoes of War
Edited by Sandra Kraisirideja, AWFJ.org Associate Editor
