Recently leaving the Netflix catalogue, ‘Fury’ – renowned for its stark depiction of war’s mechanised brutality and star-studded ensemble – is still available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
Capturing the intense and unforgiving nature of tank warfare during World War 2, ‘Fury’ thrusts viewers into 1945, as a seasoned American tank squadron navigates the harrowing landscape of Nazi Germany in the twilight of the conflict.
Helmed by acclaimed director David Ayer, Brad Pitt delivers a top performance as Staff Sergeant Don “Wardaddy” Collier, backed by an impressive cast including Logan Lerman, Shia LaBeouf, Michael Peña, and Jon Bernthal.
Under Wardaddy’s hardened leadership, the unit faces hardship and confronts the daunting mental strain of combat throughout the film.
Exploring the profound bonds made by soldiers in battle, ‘Fury’ shows the visceral impact of war and the enduring human spirit amidst relentless violence.
The film’s authenticity is highlighted by its namesake, the M4 Sherman tank named ‘Fury,’ brought to life on screen with a genuine, operational Tiger 1 tank.
For an added edge of realism, the actors endured an exhaustive boot camp led by Navy SEALs, subjecting them to the extremes of living inside a tank. Brad Pitt recalled the grueling experience: “set up to break us down, to keep us cold, to keep us exhausted, to make us miserable, to keep us wet, make us eat cold food”.
“And if our stuff wasn’t together we had to pay for it with physical forfeits. We’re up at five in the morning, we’re doing night watches on the hour”.
Director Ayer was known for pushing his cast to their limits, even encouraging physical altercations to build tension. This approach resulted in actors sporting black eyes and bloody noses.
“I am ruthless as a director”, he confessed. “I will do whatever I think is necessary to get what I want”.
Despite not being a major contender during awards season, Fury received acclaim for its performances and authenticity upon release. It’s now regarded by some as one of the most realistic modern portrayals of tank warfare on screen.
“The battles are chaotic and terrifying, and the film doesn’t shy away from showing how brutal war is. The tank scenes are some of the most intense I’ve ever seen in a movie-you feel the claustrophobia inside the tank and the constant danger outside. It’s loud, dirty, and unrelenting, which makes it all feel so real”, one review on Rotten Tomatoes reads.
“With a strong cast and intense storytelling, it’s a powerful reminder of the kind of character-driven war movies we rarely see anymore”, another fan penned.
“One of the best movies of all time. It will make you laugh, cry, angry… truly captivating and amazing”, wrote another.
Fury (2014) is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.