Fury

Fury is not just a great war film, it is a great movie. The acting is superb, and the directing conveys an intense, yet bleak environment that does nothing to glorify war. The action portrays an uncertainty that would seem to me to embody the nature of battle; and that is the over-riding emotion in Fury. At every moment in the movie, you have no idea when something terrible will happen, and as a result, you are on the edge of your seat through the entire story. The acting is stellar across the board, with Logan Lerman giving what I may argue to be his best performance to date. Shia LaBeouf, Michael Pena and Jon Bernthal are fantastic in their supporting roles, with Brad Pitt, despite a strong performance, being overshadowed by his supporting cast. The battle scenes are very well done with sound effects that will make you jump, brutal deaths that make you cringe, and human dramas that not only convey the horrors of war, but let you see inside the loss of humanity. Fury explores many themes, such as what happens to individual humanity in adversity, but also the redemption that accompanies that loss, and the movie excels in telling those stories. There are many scenes throughout Fury that are among the best of the year; made believable by great writing, incredible acting, and an audience that becomes emotionally invested in the story. This is a fantastic film, and while it won't be easy for everyone to watch, it is definitely worth your time and money. This is a movie that will have you thinking about its story for days.