Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) or ‘What Qualifies as a Five Star Film?’

Seeing Mad Max: Fury road seem so long ago now – despite the screening being just yesterday evening. Perhaps because I was lounging in an Everyman Cinema on Baker Street with a Cosmopolitan in hand (the best kind of cinema is the kind with cocktails). I was so comfortable I could have fallen asleep, but this is the moment the trailers rolled and Mad Max began. From one corker of an establishing shot, I was practically lobbed into Max’s survival mode world and the car-chase-long film that is Fury Road. And that is essentially what it is, which ironically is one of the reasons it is so great.

What makes a film so great, what makes a film worthy of a five star rating is always one or both of the following reasons: 

1. It is classed as unmissable
2. Something above and beyond a series of moving pictures

Number 1 usually covers award hype films (Whiplash, 12 Years a Slave), Disney greats (Frozen, Big Hero 6), and cult classics (check the IMDb top 250 for around 250 examples). These are films that will surround you for months whether you like it or not – I’m talking Let it Go, constant photos of J. K. Simmons staring into your soul with award in hand or just massive promotion for it. Number 2 applies, in my books, to Cloud Atlas, to Blade Runner, to Mad Max: Fury Road. These films earned their stars because it is more than just what is on screen, more than the gorgeous soundtrack, it’s even more than how it makes me feel.

A five star rating of this kind is about sheer ambition – the glorious creativity and imagination that secures films place in the art world where it belongs. Occasionally it is a film that’s ahead of it’s time; it is so creatively huge that no-one saw it coming (Blade Runner, again).

Every film is a labour of love – years of work and production, so whether we call it good or bad, it all started as an idea in someone’s head. So regardless of whether we’re talking of the iconic Raiders of the Lost Ark, or the abysmal Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, it is still miraculous that what started as a thought can make it through the creative process to be shown on a big screen.

Occasionally however, we get such films that come along and take everyone by surprise , confusing audiences and making them reconsider their personal taste in film. Both my friends and I turned to call Fury Road the best action film we’d ever seen. This is the beauty of it all – I have yet to see the Fast and Furious franchise, or Sin City, or even other Mad Max films and it’s been a long time since I have been persuaded to see an action film in the cinema  – or enjoy one this much. Yet here I am, writing a five star review for a violence-filled, rock and roll scored, Tom Hardy starring action film with car chases and scantily clad women. Miracles do happen, folks.

Watching this film, I was in jaw-half-open-awe of how incredibly ambitious this film was, and I couldn’t help but think, marvelling at its beauty, how over-the-moon the teams behind Fury Road must be. It succeeded expectation and possibility. Now that I’ve temporarily stopped gushing about how much I love good films (I could write a book, honestly), let’s talk more Mad Max…

The absolutely glorious soundtrack is one to be bought immediately and listen to as you do really un-glorious things like brush your teeth or fall out of bed (if you’re that prepared, that is). The cinematography is just fantastic, and things like the colour, or the realism of the completely unreal dessert and post-apocalyptic culture ruled by creepy-as-anything ‘Immortan Joe’ are just jaw-dropping. I had reservations about seeing the film, fearing a mindless action film with a lot of death but I was not right in holding such reservations. I was right about the death but I mean, it has the words ‘mad’ and ‘fury’ in the title – they advertised the film as madness so of course there was going to be loads of deaths. Small victories, eh? But the film itself s worth watching regardless of your chosen genre persuasion and really was a mouth-open at the credits, wanting to clap sort of film.

Practically flawless, visually stunning, the editing was seamless and there were no useless shots or any wasted dialogue – everything was carefully thought out and designed to create a thoroughly enjoyable, and thrilling action film proving the team behind it to have the imagination of a couple of children who believe in dinosaurs and unicorns, and this is by no means a bad thing.

I had no idea how they could make a 2 hour car chase interesting but they sure as hell did. Gripping and intensely good, (and in case you hadn’t already guessed from the hints) Mad Max: Fury Road gets a solid FIVE STARS.

The ‘CHEER UP, DUCK’ Collection

During exams last summer I watched a lot of films to cheer me up and thought of posting about them and I grouped them all and thought of a cool name but never posted it. I’m in a similar situation again now and have decided to post it once and for all (complete with pictures I spent way too long editing) – this is a new collection for when it’s all gone wrong and you either need a life lesson or just a film to make you feel good. I have seven of each.

The 7 with important messages:

1. The Way Way Back (2013)

This is such a beautiful film that is quite possibly resonant with every viewer. With a gorgeous soundtrack, realistic situations and characters to look up to (Sam Rockwell esp.), this film reminds us all to speak for ourselves; to never let anyone belittle us; to keep looking.

The message: So you don’t fit in here – you will fit in somewhere and there will be people that love you. You just have to brave the world and go find them.

2. Empire Records (1995)

I only watched this film recently and was a little confused throughout. By the end, I understood everything and thought the film was wonderful. Empire Records’ main storyline is a group of young people trying to save their store from becoming a chain, but really it’s much more. Store owner Joe has taken all these young people, each with their own secrets, their own stories and problems under his wing and has given them so much more than a job. They are a miniature family that help each other through it all. Upon realizing that even the seemingly perfect Corey (Liv Tyler) has a serious issue, the greatest quote comes about (see above).

The message: We all have our own issues, and we all need each other to get through them.

3. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Well it’s Little Miss Sunshine isn’t it. This is the easiest one and at the same time, one of the most feel good. Again, a exploration of one groups problems but this time, dealt with in the best way and with best humour. Yes, it is a sad film too but what we come away with is this strong sense that nobody is normal and that you should follow your dreams because someone will support you, even if they are the minority.

The message: Who cares what anyone else thinks? Do what you want to do.

4. The Truman Show (1998)

Every time this film is mentioned I can’t help but sigh wistfully. The Truman Show is one of my all time favourites and goes down in everyone’s book as a classic. What’s best about this film is not the stunning score, nor the clever philosophical points, but Truman himself. Although you’re more likely to be crying over your laptop as the storm overthrows his boat, you become as overjoyed as the on-screen audience at his triumph. Truman’s character is beyond admirable and his sense of self and ability to make decisions for himself is something we should probably start trying.

The message: It does not matter where you are or who you are with as long as you know yourself.

5. ParaNorman (2012)

ParaNorman is almost too real for an animation. It is so full of truths about people and what we are like, despite it being about a boy fighting off zombies. A film I personally adore for two reasons; a-the crazy drama teacher, b-that Norman keeps going no matter what. Here’s a kid with a rough start – he can see dead things and no-one believes him. His Dad thinks he’s crazy, he is bullied at school and only finds comfort in the ghost of his grandmother. Nothing stops Norman – sure he gets angry and yells once in a while but he is determined to save the town and to help a little girl that felt the same as him. 

The message: You cannot let fear stop you. Giving up prevents triumph.

6. The Breakfast Club (1985)

Obviously The Breakfast Club. This film should be a constant reminder that everyone has something in common and that if we tried hard enough, we could all get a long just fine. Sounds too idyllic and oddly pleasant I know,but in all sincerity this films serves to reassure us that we are not as crazy or as weird as we think. No one is really normal.

The message: Be whoever you want to be – no-one can stop you.

7. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

I know this is quite a sad film that made you sink down in you cinema chair and sob a few years back… but(!) if you pay attention, you can take away the important messages. This is such an emotionally charged piece of cinema in which people like Charlie can finally be told what they need to here; “You can’t just sit there and put everyone’s life ahead of yours and think that counts as love”. This film is endlessly quotable and a really important watch – especially as a young adult film. (You should also try the book it’s based on by Stephen Chbosky).

The message: You are better than you think. There is nothing wrong with you.

To finish off, here are 7 films I recommend to make you cheer up a little (for no real reason):

Left to Right:

1. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
2. The Goonies (1985)
3. She’s the Man (2006)
4. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
5. Mulan (1998)
6. Clueless (1995)
7. Hairspray (2007)