student as I exit the subway HMV is on sale. I pick up an $8.99 Christmas cd that says Beach Boys harmonies. I remember hearing somthing acapella from them a few years back at my older brothers house. I ask the knowledgable reps (ex Sam's employees you know them - the older classical expert who never had the time of day for you and the white haired hippie who never looks like he had a day of worry in his life) on the 3rd floor.
"The Beach Boys never did anything acapella." he tells me. I hand him the cd and tell him to file it under B.
Okie dokie. Lunch at Panera's where 1/2 sandwich, a small bowl of tomato soup, apple, and a bottle of water cost you twelve bucks. But they do it with a smile on their face and that's the key.
Movie
decision. I'm down here so I might as well. I decide on Fury. A friend
and I had had an internet exchange (in which we whine about the pathetic
state of war movies. All flash and no substance.) He had seen a
bootlegged copy of the film and wasn't impressed. So I, hoping to
continue the argument (and with time on my hands)decide to check it
out.There are twenty, maybe thirty people. Mainly guys, and a broad range at that. Yippy young students and out of work schlubs, who like myself, are killing time. The listing says 145. I have been there since 140pm and by the time the movie starts (2:03) I have watched 20 minutes worth of commercials, several warnings to turn off my cel, and five minutes of previews. If i had a cel I would throw it at the f...ing screen and tell them to get on with it.
What did Ogilvy say about captive audiences? You finally got what you wanted.
Lights go down. The kids are yippy but amazingly quiet down for the big event. Movie finally comes on. A singular tank in an abandoned farm field. A white horse. Pull out. A German official of some rank. Brad Pitt (and for all intents and purposes lets call him Fury) engages the officer in combat. Kills him ugly (takes his eye balls out) and then lets the horse go free. It's obvious where his loyalties lie. Brad does not like Germans.
Back inside the tank. We are introduced to the crew. Three living, one dead. These boys have been through hell. They kibbitz, get on each other's nerves. But they love each other man.
It's a great first hour. But then at the epiphany point sags under its own weight. Who is Pitt but a contradiction. What is this sudden obligation to be nice to the German women. Women and horses are off limits. A showdown between the men. Nothing comes of it.
Called into action.
I check the IMDB to seee who directed this little mess. It's David Ayers. I have felt a similar loss of focus in his other films. Training Day.Wherein he starts out with great bravado and timing then gets bogged down in the weight of its own premise.
Watch it if you can, on dvd or streaming device and come up with your opinion.
