Awesome Tank Battles and Powerful Performances Make for an Epic War Film in "Fury"

 
   David Ayer's World War II epic "Fury" is one of the more powerful war films you'll see to date. This can be attributed to the fine casting, the scope of its cinematography, and it's overall story. I love a good war movie just like the next person. "Saving Private Ryan", "Platoon", "We Were Soldiers", all of these films both portray realistic wartime events with an emotional story driven by grounded characters. They're usual grand in scope and encompass a wide range of emotion. Few war movies though can transcend the entertainment value in order to obtain a higher level of emotional connection. 2009's Academy Award Winning film "The Hurt Locker" did just that, expanding the epic scope of modern-day warfare from the battlefield into the mind of the soldier. "Fury" does the same thing but from the perspective of another time in history. It's truly moving to watch.

   "Fury" takes place in April of 1945, towards the end of World War II. It's set in Europe with the Allies moving from town to town during their final push. A battle-hardened vet nicknamed Wardaddy (Brad Pitt) leads his five-man crew of the Sherman tank they've named Fury, on a deadly mission behind enemy lines; a group that has been together for three years, save a rookie assistant driver. They face overwhelming odds as they find themselves alone, out-manned and out-gunned during what would be their finest attempt at striking at the heart of Nazi Germany. The level of drama, suspense, and action is enough to keep you on the edge of your seat.

   The casting in this movie is by far its strong point. Brad Pitt plays the leader of the Fury team. His hardened Wardaddy has been from Africa to Europe, seen most of the war effort and has become a formidable opponent on the battlefield. Michael Pena plays Gordo, the Fury's driver. Most of the limited comedy comes from Gordo, a Mexican-American who is proud to fight for his country and has spent the last three years driving his comrades into each and every battle. Jon Bernthal plays Grady 'Coon-Ass' Travis, the canon-munitions loader; a simple-minded man who has seen more than his fair share of horror throughout his time. Shia LaBeouf plays Boyd 'Bible' Swan, the canon operator and spiritual center for the group. It's common knowledge nowadays that LaBeouf has had his fair share of rough patches in the past, enough to make one think his career may be tarnished for good. His performance surpassed my expectations and is probably the best of them all. The man can act, and he's able to reach levels of emotion that will just bring you to your knees. Not only is this one of the best performances in the film, but it's by far his best performance to date. Rounding out the crew is Norman Ellison, played by Logan Lerman. Pulled from his comfy desk job with no training whatsoever, Norman enters the group as the new assistant driver. Lerman is able to embody the horror, the terror, and adrenaline that comes from a new recruit. It's such a visual feast to watch the extremes between the group as they interact with each other both on and off the battlefield. The movie is essentially a character study with immense amount of action around it.
 

   The story itself is pretty amazing. we get to see the ins and outs of what it was like to fight in Nazi Germany. The tank platoons are a newer facet of the war film genre that is intriguing and intense. We see that from the outside it's just a tank, but for the soldiers that wield them, it's their home, and they defend it as such. The story is as simple as the journey of a tank platoon to as complex as a study in wartime psychology. As Wardaddy states so poignantly, "Ideals are peaceful. History is violent." This idea is woven all throughout the film and culminates in one of the most amazing climaxes of any war film I've seen to date.

   I can't express how much this film rocked. It's one that shouldn't be missed. Some of this years' greatest performances in film are in this picture, (i.e. Shia LaBeouf, Brad Pitt). I wouldn't be surprised if one of those men get nominated for an Oscar. It's a powerful treat of a film and should be experienced on the big screen.