Mad Max: Feminist Propaganda?

With the release of the brilliant Mad Max: Fury Road came an outcry of dismay from several men's rights activists about how the movie is nothing more than a work of feminist propaganda, and that it ought to be boycotted at every cost. The main reason for this averse reaction is simple: the main character is arguably somebody other than the titular Max. In fact, it's Charlize Theron's 'Furiosa' who takes the leading role for most of the film, which defies many gender stereotypes we've had within action movies for a very long time. Does this mean that Fury Road is a man-hating, feminism-glorifying piece of cinema? Of course not. 

In the world of Fury Road, men are the overwhelmingly predominant gender. Villain Immortan Joe's hope of a future heir relies upon his five 'breeders', who he keeps locked up in his fortress, in the hope of producing a male child. Furiosa rescues these women and takes them far from Joe's evil grasp, trying to reach the promised 'green place' from where she came. However, during all of this, Max himself is present. Sure, he begins the movie captured and chained to the front of a car, but he's soon set free and is forced to side with Furiosa to ensure any chance of survival - and in that lies the key point. Max sides with Furiosa; he's not overshadowed by her. 

There's a handful of scenes that have made people particularly angry, one being a moment at which Max hands Furiosa a sniper in order for her to shoot at a far away target effectively. Three bullets remain in the gun, and Max shoots two - both of them miss. To save wasting all three, Max acknowledges that Furiosa's previous display of marksmanship is superior to his, and so he hands her the gun, which she places on his shoulder; using Max as a makeshift bi-pod. This scene doesn't have anything to do with the fact that Max is a man and Furiosa is a woman. An earlier scene shows how her talent with a gun surpasses that of Max's, and so she completes the task at hand. It's been established that Max is more of a regular guy than an all-out action hero, and so for him to be perfect at every stereotypically masculine skill would not only seem unrealistic, but go against the established narrative of the Mad Max series. 

Another point of contention that has riled up certain groups of people is that Fury Road's director George Miller hired Eve Ensler to talk to the five wives in the film (alongside others) in order to give a perspective of their situation. Eve is the writer of 'The Vagina Monologues', and is a woman's rights activist. Many took this as George Miller having a feminist agenda when producing the movie (though this wouldn't necessarily be a terrible thing), but Eve only offered insight and advice to some of the actors and actresses. If it results in a better, more grounded movie, then why would this be such a huge issue? 

The fact of the matter is that Furiosa is a strong, empowering female character who can easily stand alongside the likes of Ellen Ripley or Sarah Connor. This doesn't mean that Max is less than her; nor does it mean he's superior. In Fury Road, Max and Furiosa end up being equals, and both have a joint motivation: survival. How about, instead of being so concerned with the politics of a movie like this, we enjoy it as the amazing, exhilarating action film that it is? Having women in leading roles within movies isn't a terrible thing, and that should honestly go without saying. But we can still have our Jason Stathams and Sylvester Stallones, too. 

Because it's about equality, right? 

Mad Max: Fury Road (Review) - Fantastically Fuelled Action

Wow. That's all I can really say. After nearly two hours of non-stop action, it's hard to properly explain exactly what you've just seen. Mad Max: Fury Road is an insane, balls-to-the-wall action film at its most pure. It's minimal on dialogue, and packed to the brim with explosions, cars, and face-melting stunts that are an absolute joy to behold. Believe the hype: this is one of the best action films in years. 

The film opens with our hero Max (Tom Hardy) being captured by a group of albino savages, and taken back to their encampment. Led by fearsome dictator Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne), this sinister oasis becomes Max's prison, as he is bled dry to fuel the mindless followers of Joe. Meanwhile, a mysterious driver of Joe's goes rogue, and takes his 'breeders' in search of her childhood home. Max joins this woman along the way, and mayhem ensues spectacularly. 

While the story is relatively interesting, it's little more than a vehicle to drive the relentless chaos forwards. Max is a man of few words, as are most of his allies; there's lengthy periods without any dialogue, but unlike artsy films such as Drive, these speechless segments are filled with chases and fire. The film itself is essentially a two-hour chase across the arid desert, and is predominantly a showcase for just how mental things can get. There's about 30 minutes of downtime littered throughout, which allows for some character development and expansion of the world, but Fury Road often opts for action instead of words. In fact, it's in these moments of solace that you'll find yourself moderately bored, waiting for the next huge event to spark things off once more. 

Back when Mad Max was first introduced to us back in 1979, Mel Gibson filled the shoes of the enigmatic protagonist. The first instalment was a vastly different movie from what we've got here now, but managed to become something of a cult classic abroad after its Australian conception. Throughout the three movies, Mel Gibson solidified himself as the quietly capable lead, but Tom Hardy does a brilliant job in revitalising the character of Max. Though he's lacking in dialogue, Hardy's Max is still a complex and battered man, which is especially shown through the brief yet interesting flashbacks. Don't worry though: you won't be missing out if you haven't seen the original trilogy...though do yourself a favour and watch The Road Warrior, at the very least. There's plenty of nods and references to this classic throughout Fury Road, too. 

Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy)

Perhaps the biggest surprise is that Max isn't exactly the film's main character, however. While his name may be the one plastered all over the posters, it's Furiosa (Charlize Theron) who drives the movie - and plot - forwards. She's no damsel in distress either, and goes toe-to-toe with Max on several occasions. For years, the problem of weak female protagonists has been a huge area of contention for movie goers. Female heroes like Alien's Ripley and Terminator's Sarah Connor stand out as examples of empowering women in movies, and Fury Road's Furiosa can proudly stand alongside them. If you've ever complained about women's lacking presence in the action scene, then you owe it to yourself to see this movie. 

There's really nothing negative I can say about this film. Sure, the moments of downtime that are rare occasionally feel a little too slow, but they're necessary to make the action feel as intense as it does. Once you've seen a guy rocking out on a double guitar that shoots fire out of its end, you know you're in for a real treat. 

Verdict

Perhaps the biggest surprise for a film I've had in years, Fury Road solidifies its place as a modern-classic action masterpiece. It's ludicrous, ridiculous and absurd, and yet manages to keep you engaged and believing until the very end. I was sceptical that the pace could be held to the same heights as in the trailers, but the film succeeds to do so and then some. You'll come out of the cinema wanting to watch it all again, as every single scene is littered with details, and there's always so much going on amidst the fiery explosions and mayhem. Couple that with the frequency of practical effects instead of blatant CGI, and you've got yourself a real treat. See this movie. Like, now. 

"My name is Max. My world is Fire.

And Blood."