Gritty, violent, and highly entertaining World War II flick with solid performances

Rating: 9/10 (28 January 2015)

David Ayer's dark and gritty take on World War II boasts a powerful representation on the horrifying reality of war. In short words, it has nothing to say other than "War is hell", or as Brad Pitt's character puts it "Ideals are peaceful, history is violent". Shining on screen is a stellar cast of actors taking on roles of soldiers in this violent, gory World War II flick that shies away from director David Ayer's typical works which often deal with police drama ('End of Watch', 'Street Kings'). And what David Ayer pedals on screen this time is a crew of soldiers who face the unforgiving reality of war on the European battlefront, which is no stranger to lead Brad Pitt who wielded the role of Nazi-killing Lieutenant Aldo Rain in Quentin Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds' five years ago. In further detail, he proceeds not with the goal to give viewers a bleak history lesson, but to simply tell a story that feels parallel to what being in active combat feels like, even if the plot feels slightly run-of-the-mill. Set in April of 1945 near the conclusion of World War II on the European Theater, Brad Pitt plays Wardaddy, a war-hardened staff sergeant leading of his crew of men in an M4 Sherman Tank through the European battlefields to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany. His courageous crew includes a religious soldier named Boyd "Bible" Swan (played by Shia Labeouf), flamboyant gun-loader Grady "Coon-Ass" Travis (played by Jon Bernthal), Mexican tank driver Trini "Gordo" Garcia (played by Michael Pena), and the newly hired assistant driver Norman Ellis (played by Logan Lerman). Together, these crew of men fight through the violent fields of Germany while struggling to cope with a bloodshed horrors of active combat.
Although David Ayer's rendition of World War II on the European front doesn't flourish the same emotionally gravitas as 'Saving Private Ryan' (unsurprisingly), it paints a highly disturbing portrait of the harsh reality of war in a way that rarely pulls the punches. When the crew enters the battlegrounds, heads are blown off, soldiers are engulfed in flames, bodies are torn apart, and our characters bravely pursue through the fields knowing they can be killed in any second. If there are any moments that offer levity, they cam from the occasional humorous one-liners that the characters spit out every now and then. All in all, they do little to sugarcoat the grueling atmosphere that pervades this emotionally blistering trek. The story focuses on a crew of men crammed inside the tight confinement of a Sherman Tank, and newest member on the ride is Logan Lerman's character Norman Ellis, a young typist who's inexperienced in active combat. Upon first entering the battlegrounds, Norman struggles vigorously on coping with the horrors of war as opposed to Brad Pitt's Wardaddy who's seen it all since the beginning. As the story proceeds, Norman grows a broader eye on the truth of war that puts to maximum test in the climatic battle sequence during the final third. And his character's growth from cowardly to bravely is handled mostly well, though it feels a little rushed towards the end in the aforementioned battle sequence. As for the rest of the characters who are left in a two-dimensional state (except Wardaddy), they are not only fortunately energized with cast's solid performances that speak high volumes of the actors' talents, but very human in their portrayal (though Jon Bernthal character's shows slight resemblance of a caricature).
Fury is gritty, violent, but highly entertaining World War II flick empowered by a powerful direction by David Ayer and solid performances by a likable cast. While the film may not hold the same amount of emotional gravitas as other high-ranked films of the genre, it is honest in it's portrait of war and stands strong as a powerful picture.