Explosive Moviemaking

Visually stunning Mad Max: Fury Road may be the most memorable movie of 2015

In Hollywood, especially in recent years, everything old is new again, with properties and franchises being revived years or even decades after they were last seen. Usually people who had little or nothing to do with the original films take on the new projects, but Mad Max: Fury Road was done by the same writer/director who brought the franchise to life in 1979, George Miller.

Miller’s involvement is just the first of the positive signs for the new film. The second, as anyone who’s seen the film’s trailers can attest, is the approach Miller and his team took toward the stunts in the film. Instead of relying on CGI to do the heavy lifting, they took the old-fashioned approach of putting actors and stunt men and women in harm’s way for the film’s absolutely bonkers car chase scenes.

It all adds up to what’s sure to be one of the most memorable movies of 2015, whether it’s considered to be one of the best or not. Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where a warlord, Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne), rules over a population desperate for water and gas, the film is a visual stunner virtually from beginning to end.

It doesn’t really matter all that much if you have limited knowledge of the first three Mad Max films, the last of which was 30 years ago. All you really need to know is that Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy, taking over the Mel Gibson role) is still a loner who speaks very little, and this time around he finds himself helping Furiosa (Charlize Theron), who has betrayed Immortan Joe and is on the run from him and his minions.

Despite what you may hope or believe from the trailers, the film is not non-stop action, a fact that might be a disappointment for some. However, instead of using the film’s quieter moments to flesh out the background of key characters, Miller seems to prefer to let the visuals doing the talking, filling the screen with all manner of oddities.

The lack of a complete story doesn’t really hold the film back, but it does make it less than it could have been. Still, when the rest of the movie is as inventive as it is, actual exposition can prove unnecessary. The details on everything from the costumes to the cars to the weapons are a sight to behold, each of them telling their own mini-story within the larger picture.

The car chases – or, more accurately, the car crashes – are as over-the-top as advertised. Although there are times where CGI obviously comes into play, for the most part it’s plain to see that the stunts were done with practical effects and real people. The thrill factor is upped exponentially because of this decision, with one sequence, in which people high atop poles drop down on other vehicles, taking the cake.

But it’s not just the stunts that are eye-popping. The cinematography by Oscar winner John Seale is for the ages, and is one of the few instances in which the use of 3D proves to be a real boon to the final product. Seale uses varying colors, wide angles and more to take in the full scope of the film’s desert setting, and there are times when your jaw will drop at how beautiful he makes it seem.

Hardy is already well known for being a taciturn actor, which means that the role of Max fits him to a tee. Using few words and a mysterious yet alluring accent, Hardy makes Max into someone to be feared or trusted, depending on which side you’re on. Theron is the co-lead, and she grabs the opportunity for all it’s worth. She lives up to her character’s name in every way while still ensuring that Furiosa’s femininity never gets lost.

Special note should also be made of Nicholas Hoult, who plays Lux, one of Immortan Joe’s zombie-esque minions. Not only does he get the line – “Oh, what a day! What a lovely day!” – that is already the movie quote of the summer, but he plays his role in such a creepy yet innocent way that he threatens to steal every scene he’s in.

While Hollywood is rightly taken to task for remaking too many old movies instead of coming up with new ideas, Mad Max: Fury Road proves that there’s always an exception to every rule. Any movie fan worth his or her salt will walk away with glee from this visceral delight.

Tom Hardy in Mad Max: Fury Road.

Tom Hardy in Mad Max: Fury Road

Photo by Jasin Boland Warner Bros. Pictures

Tom Hardy in Mad Max: Fury Road.

Weekend Event Planner

These are the 17 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

Seth Meyers

Photo courtesy of NBC

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It's another big weekend of things to do in and around Dallas, but instead of one big event headlining, there will be an array of events offering a similar level of fun. Choices include five concerts, one a festival-style benefit; six theater productions; three comedians, including a big late-night host, a festival, a dance production, and the final days of a notable art exhibition.

Seth Meyers

Photo courtesy of NBC

Seth Meyers will perform at the Music Hall at Fair Park on October 23.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. For more options, check out our calendar for an even longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, October 22

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Rachmaninoff & Schubert"
"Rachmaninoff & Schubert," conducted by Fabio Luisi and featuring pianist Lise de la Salle, will include Hovhaness' Symphony No. 2, “Mysterious Mountain,” Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor, and Schubert's Symphony No. 8 in B minor, “Unfinished.” There will be three performances through Saturday at Meyerson Symphony Center.

Dan + Shay in concert
Since their debut album in 2014, country duo Dan + Shay have consistently topped the charts with both albums and singles. Their first five albums made it to the top 10 on the Billboard Country chart, and they have had many top 10 hits, including the recent "Say So" off of their new album, Young. They'll play at Dos Equis Pavilion, joined by Tyler Hubbard and Josh Ross.

UT Arlington Department of Theatre and Dance presents Into the Woods
Into the Woods is a musical by Stephen Sondheim that intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. The production takes place on the MainStage Theatre in the Fine Arts Building on the UT Arlington campus and will have four performances through Sunday.

AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Lucy Darling: As You Wish
As You Wish is a new touring solo show featuring award-winning performer Carisa Hendrix as she stars as charming socialite and cocktail enthusiast Lucy Darling, continuing her vivacious vagabond voyages with her razor-sharp wit, unquestionable advice, and inconceivable magic. There will be five performances through Sunday at Wyly Theatre.

The Firehouse Theatre presents Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to 19th century London, seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which he opens a new barber practice. Mrs. Lovett's luck sharply shifts when Todd's thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up ... and the carnage has only just begun. The production, which started on October 15, runs through November 1 at The Firehouse Theatre in Farmers Branch.

Friday, October 23

City of Grand Prairie presents Main Street Fest
The City of Grand Prairie Parks, Arts & Recreation Department's annual Main Street Fest includes live music, carnival rides & games, arts & crafts, food & beverage gardens, an array of entertainment at the Kidzone, and more. Headline performers will include The Commodores, Sammy Kershaw, and Keith Nieto. The festival takes place through Sunday on Main Street in Grand Prairie.

Charlie Berens: The Lost & Found Tour
Charlie Berens is a comedian, author, journalist, musician, and content creator. In 2017, Berens began hosting his weekly comedic online news show, the Manitowoc Minute. Since then, he has been creating Midwest-inspired sketch comedy videos that connect to a worldwide social media audience of over 10 million. Berens has also written a New York Times bestseller, The Midwest Survival Guide, and hosts the Cripescast podcast and co-hosts the Bellied Up podcast with “Myles The You Betcha Guy.” He'll perform at Majestic Theatre.

Sundown Collaborative Theatre presents Witches (a devised piece)
Drawing from centuries of witch folklore and the lived experiences of women and gender-diverse people today, the devised work Witches explores the ways people have been feared, controlled, judged, and punished for stepping outside the boundaries placed around them. Through horror, ritual, movement, video, shadow, sound, visual effects, and original text, Witches moves between the world of folklore and the world we recognize now. The production runs through November 1 at the Theatre Denton Annex in the Golden Triangle Mall.

Soul Rep Theatre Company presents Spunk
Adapted from the beloved stories of Zora Neale Hurston, Spunk is an electrifying theatrical experience infused with the rhythms of blues, gospel, and jazz. Through three captivating tales, the production celebrates love, folklore, resilience, and the enduring spirit of community. The production runs through November 1 in Bryant Hall, located in the Kalita Humphreys Theater complex.

Theatre Arlington presents The Great American Trailer Park Musical
There’s a new tenant at Armadillo Acres and she’s wreaking havoc all over Florida’s most exclusive trailer park. When Pippi, the stripper on the run, comes between the Dr. Phil-loving, agoraphobic Jeannie and her tollbooth collector husband, the storms begin to brew. The musical, featuring music and lyrics by David Nehls with a book by Betsy Kelso, runs through November 8 at Theatre Arlington.

WaterTower Theatre presents BWY X NTX: Songs For A New World
Songs for a New World is the first musical by composer-lyricist Jason Robert Brown. The contemporary song cycle weaves characters and history together, illuminating the timelessness of self-discovery. With a rousing score that blends pop, gospel, and jazz, featuring tight harmonies and daring vocals, Songs for a New World transports audiences from the deck of a Spanish sailing ship bound for a new land to the ledge of a New York penthouse. The production runs through November 1 at Addison Performing Arts Centre.

Ballet North Texas presents Changeling
Changeling, a haunting new ballet by Sam Jones, features striking contemporary movement and atmospheric theatricality. The work explores the fragile space between identity and illusion, where what is hidden begins to surface and nothing is quite as it seems. Presented as part of Ballet North Texas’s fall mixed repertory program, Changeling invites audiences into an eerie, elegant, and deeply human world of mystery, tension, and transformation. There will be performances on Friday and Saturday at Moody Performance Hall.

Music Hall at Fair Park presents Seth Meyers
Seth Meyers, host of Late Night with Seth Meyers and former cast member of Saturday Night Live, comes to Dallas for a night of stand-up comedy. Meyers has released two comedy specials, Lobby Baby in 2019 and Dad Man Walking in 2024. He also hosts two podcasts: The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast and Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers. He'll perform at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

Saturday, October 24

Nasher Sculpture Center presents "Roy Lichtenstein in the Studio" closing day
Saturday will be the final day to view "Roy Lichtenstein in the Studio" at Nasher Sculpture Center. Works relating to three sculptures from the Raymond and Patsy Nasher Collection - Head with Blue Shadow, Peace through Chemistry, and Double Glass - are accompanied by a selection from the Foundation's gift of more than two dozen drawings and maquettes associated with Lichtenstein’s Brushstroke sculptures.

National Life Group Do Good Fest
Do Good Fest is an annual benefit concert supporting childhood hunger relief and youth mental health. The outdoor concert at Levitt Pavilion in Arlington will feature performances by headliner Barenaked Ladies, singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb, and the original band members of Nine Stories, Tim Bright, Jonathan Feinberg, and Joe Quigley. Proceeds will benefit Tarrant Area Food Bank’s Ready to Learn initiative.

Iron & Wine in concert
Iron & Wine, aka Samuel Beam, is a singer-songwriter who has been wowing folk rock fans for almost 25 years. Debuting in 2002, he got his first big break when his cover of "Such Great Heights" appeared on the Garden State soundtrack in 2004. That exposure led him to some high-charting albums, including Kiss Each Other Clean in 2011, which went to No. 2 on the Billboard 200. He'll play at Majestic Theatre in support of his new album, Hen's Teeth.

Sunday, October 25

AT&T Performing Arts Center presents The Billy Joel Legacy
The Billy Joel Legacy: Celebrating the Piano Man is a celebration of the legendary singer-songwriter’s greatest hits, and the story of the man behind the melodies. The concert experience takes the audience on a journey through Joel’s career, from his humble beginnings to becoming one of the greatest songwriters and performers of all time. Through faithful recreation of the original music, visuals, and storytelling, the audience will discover how Joel's music has shaped generations and why his legacy endures. The concert takes place at Majestic Theatre.

music concerts symphony theater comedy festivals dance exhibitions-visual-arts event-planner

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