Movie Review

Anya Taylor-Joy brings the fury in summer flick Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Anya Taylor-Joy in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

Photo by Jasin Boland

When Mad Max: Fury Road came out in 2015, it became one of the biggest successes of that year for a variety of reasons, most notably for its stunts and cinematography. It also included several indelible new characters, chief among them being Furiosa (played by Charlize Theron), a woman with a mechanical arm who betrays the film’s villain, Immortan Joe, and goes on the run with Max and a group of female prisoners.

Writer/director George Miller clearly became enamored with that character, too, as he’s now based a prequel film, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, around her origin story. Played as a young adult by Anya Taylor-Joy, the film actually begins in her childhood when Furiosa (Alyla Browne) is kidnapped by Dr. Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) and his gang, who are living on the margins of the wasteland society, seeking resources wherever and however they can find them.

This leads to run-ins with Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme), who rules over The Citadel, a rare oasis in the desert. Furiosa herself becomes a commodity to be traded between the two groups, with her scrappiness and inventiveness proving to be an asset on many occasions. Still hoping to make it back to her home, which she dubs “The Green Place,” Furiosa spends years planning her escape while fighting for survival alongside all the other desert dwellers.

Co-written by Fury Road co-writer Nick Lathouris, the film is broken up into five chapters, each of which last for roughly 30-40 minutes. It tracks Furiosa’s progression as she adapts to her new life, with each step demonstrating what a fierce fighter she is. No matter what obstacle is put in front of her – and there are plenty of them – Furiosa finds a way to show that she is no mere weakling that others can use as they will. Both Taylor-Joy and Browne give performances that prove to be worthy of the legacy that Theron started.

While her story is relatively clear-cut, it might take a second viewing to suss out what’s happening with everyone else. Dr. Dementus makes for great new character, but his exact goals – other than domination of this particular world – aren’t well-defined. The domain of Immortan Joe – aided by his ridiculously-named sons Rictus Erectus (Nathan Jones) and Scrotus (Josh Helman), as well as his pale army of War Boys – remains distinctive from the first film, but that has the unfortunate side effect of not seeming as original the second time around.

Also suffering by comparison are the film’s chase/action scenes. The last film wowed with its spectacular set-pieces that had stunt actors flying all over the place, and while Furiosa contains its fair share of similar scenes, they either feel like retreads or just not as impressive. There’s no real way to quantify it, but the use of CGI to accomplish certain stunts seems to have been increased significantly, taking away from the sequences’ eye-popping nature. The best part of the scenes is the endlessly inventive vehicles the characters use to travel around the landscape.

Taylor-Joy is not quite the presence that Theron is, but she brings her own take to the role. Her most notable feature – her large eyes – are highlighted often while her face is otherwise covered, and her expressiveness with them speaks volumes even when her character doesn’t talk as much. Hemsworth – with the aid of a prosthetic nose – is the revelation of the film, shedding the persona of Thor from the MCU films to become a legitimately frightening villain.

Even if the film doesn’t have the surprise factor that Fury Road did, Furiosa still manages to be sufficiently entertaining for a summer blockbuster, mostly thanks to its compelling characters. The stakes may not be fully understandable, but the action and humor that Miller provides is more than enough to forgive any storytelling woes.

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Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga opens in theaters on May 24.

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Weekend Event Planner

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

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.

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.

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