FURY

With Remembrance Day approaching, Fury reminds us of the sacrifices that were made by so many young men and women during W.W. II.

We haven’t seen such a blazing and sobering W.W.II film since Days of Glory (2007), Inglourious Basterds (2009) and Defiance (2009), and there hasn’t been a tank film since Lebanon (2010). Tanks and tank footage are an integral part of many war films but now Fury brings W.W. II tank warfare to a whole new vivid level.

This is Das Boot (1982) with Tanks instead of U-Boats. We’re thrown in with a group of hardened American tank soldiers who have been fighting the Nazis from North Africa to D-Day landings in France and are now well into enemy territory; 1945 Germany, helping to give the final death blow that will end the war in Europe. But as Brad Pitt’s sergeant Collier says; ‘A lot more people have to die before that happens’

Director David Ayer, who brought us the excellent End of Watch (2012), delivers a worthy entry into the W.W.II war film from the Allied forces perspective. The story focuses on a young inexperienced battle shy recruit, Norman, who’s assigned to replace the tank gunner just killed in battle when the films opens and the effect it has on the rest of the group led by Don ‘Wardaddy’ Collier.

Fighting the last remaining vestiges of desperate German resistance, while traveling from town to town, the Fury crew, who have a reputation for being the best at getting the job done, joins up with other armored tank divisions to liberate civilians who have been pressed into war by Hitler’s SS to defend the country.

As sergeant Collier takes the rookie Norman under his wing, he tries to teach him how to become a ruthless Nazi killer. The film is not afraid of showing us the brutal horrors of war, not shying away from the questionable morals of men pushed beyond their limits and some not so heroic behavior that may violate some of our common perceptions of the war. 

We get to know the tank soldiers intimately as they maneuver their death machine to destroy the enemy from inside a heavily armored hellish steel tight box on tracks. Working together like a well-oiled machine is the only thing keeping them alive. Their leader, the seasoned battle-scared Wardaddy, will stop at nothing to kill every last enemy but the violence he has witnessed seems to be taking their toll on him. 

Fury gives us a hair-raising tanks-eye-view of the war from inside the confines of an actual Tiger I W.W. II Tank. The images are violent and graphic but always authentic with an eye and feel for the time and the horrendous reality of fighting in tank warfare using real Sherman tanks. 

The spectacular fire power of the tanks is matched only by the strong emotional performances of the whole cast who clearly show extreme dedication in their mesmerizing portrayals that genuinely draws us into the human conflict. 

This gripping war drama keeps the suspense and the action coming at a steady unwavering pace. Memorable set pieces include a tank battle showdown with a German Panzer facing off with four Allied Sherman tanks and a tense confrontation between the tight-knit Fury crew after they enter a town held by fanatical Nazis who are using children to fight. 

Fury is well worth seeing for the intense grisly action and suspenseful drama set in a historically important time.

JP