"A Furious Return"

Rating: 9/10 (19 October 2014)

I think it's safe to say that we all thought that the age of World War II has been gone for a while, the last major film being 1999's Spielberg epic, Saving Private Ryan. That is, if you don't count the Eastern version of World War II, which was brought to life with 2006's Letters From Iwo Jima. But, primarily focusing on the European fronts, you cant deny that its been quite some time since we last saw a great film on this subject, but with David Ayer's Fury, the European front returns to the big screen, and its probably one of the greatest of its kind.
The cinematography is excellent. I can't really say much else, except for the fact that there is definitely a nomination for an Oscar in this category, if not a win.
David Ayer's direction and use of physical tanks rather than CGI is impressive, and is sure to at least be remembered among many WWII film veterans.
And the acting, oh, the acting.
Everyone brings their best to the table on this one. Brad Pitt will be nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Shia LeBouf might get nominated for Supporting Actor, but it is without a doubt that Logan Lerman's performance as the new guy on the block is the best of all, and he has high chances of snagging home the Oscar for Supporting Actor. In truth, it may seem at first that this is Brad Pitt's movie, but come the end, Lerman steals the show, emotionally enrapturing us and giving us the best performance of his career. I've always sort of had a problem with Lerman, knowing that the guy has potential but never quite manages to make it, but with this film, he writes his name into our minds as one of the best performances of 2014. The rest of the cast is also pretty well done, and it's safe to say that the acting is the movie's strong-point.
The film's score is a beautifully written masterpiece that sways with feels and emotions and will at least get Steven Price a nomination for best original score, and it will for sure give you the goosebumps with its orchestral style of sound.
The score isn't the only noise the movie produces that is good, but the sound effects are definitely a plus. You jolt at every boom, awe at the sound of the marching Germans, and constantly want to shift in your seat whenever a bullet fires your way.
The visual effects are pretty impressive themselves, explosions and gunfire making you feel like your in the heat of battle. Other than that though, there's not much to marvel at.
And the ultimate part of this movie is it's depiction of war as a dangerous chess game played by politicians, even though they never actually show those figures, you still imagine them not caring at all as an individual soldier dies for their nation. And you can actually feel for the antagonists, knowing that they are only in the same position as the protagonists, that some have families to care for and yet their lives still end brutally. I love Fury's depiction of war so much, that I believe it is comparable to Saving Private Ryan's.
While still not being a major fault in the system, the film's biggest problem is its script. There are some lines in there that are somewhat cringe-worthy, and while the dialog remains alright overall, it still negates it that the words are actually uttered from the actors's mouths.
Overall, Fury is one of the best pictures of the year, sure to be remembered as time moves on. I'd like to say that Fury will get nominated for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Soundtrack, Best Sound Effects, and Best Picture, and win Best Supporting Actor for Logan Lerman's performance (yes, it is quite exceptional and it will stick with you), and maybe Best Sound Effects.
And as the holiday season of movies continues, we continue to look forward to many great movies such as Interstellar, Exodus: Gods and Kings, Nightcrawler, A Most Violent Year, Unbroken, and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.