Mad Max is a thrilling film, with an undeserved reputation for violence since the bloodletting is mostly suggested or off-screen. It soars during the car and motorcycle stunt sequences (coordinated by Grant Page) because these characters live through their vehicles (marvellous award-winning editing from Cliff Hayes and Tony Paterson). Co-written by director George Miller and journalist James McCausland (based on a story by Miller and producer Byron Kennedy), it was the latter’s only screenplay before he became editor on Melbourne’s The Age newspaper.Mel Gibson’s grim demeanour and ruthlessness look like so much play-acting, and he’s awkward out of his leather in the family scenes (he didn’t build his first fully-rounded film characterisation till his next film, Tim). The theatricality of the other actors is occasionally grating, but mostly works, especially their alienating A Clockwork Orange style riffs. Hugh Keays-Byrne is particularly memorable as biker gang leader the Toecutter, though he doesn’t get to cut any toes (compare Bruce Beresford’s Money Movers, also released in 1979). Steve Bisley is terrific as livewire cop Goose. Surprisingly, the homoerotic antics of the gang do not come across as so much camp villainy.
Worthy of note is George Miller’s suspenseful and clever misdirection involving the continual evasion and outwitting of the gang by Jessie (Joanne Samuel, a last-minute replacement for another actress who broke her leg on the way to the shoot). Her demise - off-camera - is more powerful for it. Most chilling is the ending in which Max devises a sadistic demise for one of the gang members (ironically the one who refused to ignite Goose’s truck when he was trapped in it). It turns Max into a Dirty Harry-style vigilante and, assuming you’re not whooping with lustful glee, leaves you repulsed and disturbed.The low budget means the near-future setting is believably close to ours, with recognisable towns and people and machinery. This is also pre-Miller’s discovery of Joseph Campbell, so the story, setting and character refreshingly aren’t mythologised to death. The film feels more real and relatable and less like out-there science fiction as a result. Brian May regrettably overdoes the hammy horror touches in his score.
For more in the Australian series, click here.
OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2005 Brisbane Film Festival. For more in the 2005 Brisbane Film Festival series, click here.
Trilogy Starters: For more in the Trilogy Starters series, click here.
User Comments
8/03/08
Shaun Wallner
Great Action!!
1/15/07
David Pollastrini
a bit slow in places but still good
9/14/06
Booksworm
Well deserving of it's cult classic status
7/11/06
David Cohen
Action movie with social commntary, more relavent now than ever
10/18/05
Indrid Cold
I heard that one of the Mad Max movies is very good. I've seen 1 and 3, so it must be 2.
8/04/05
DM
Cheesy in places, but well-directed and well-acted.
5/04/05
La Chupacabra
Revolutionary, and one badass movie
3/07/05
el burro
Stupid as hell. Gibson young and fine, pre-passion insanity.
1/07/05
R.W. Welch
Basically a revenge western, but shows considerable innovative flair.
11/08/04
Shit Talker
One Fucked up film
6/08/04
PAYNE
not bad, but too short...
1/07/04
Pinkline Jones
Made for no money because its a crock of brown stuff
12/06/03
john
maybe the most kinetic opening ever - made for no money!
11/29/03
john
unpredictable powerhouse action film
8/23/03
zx9 rider
excelent car crashes and old bikes
8/03/03
tom hanks
Great Movie, average story, wonderfull use of camera, nice editing
6/01/03
Apathy
Short, but memorable. That last scene is so badass...
2/22/03
ashley watley
it was ok
1/28/03
Holly Vergara
mad max rules
1/13/03
Jason
MUST SEE - get the unedited DVD, no dubbing
11/12/02
Nevz
I don't care what you say. This Is The Bollox.
9/30/02
Charles Tatum
The only film I wish more sequels existed for
9/17/02
babybelle
One thing to love a man to death, another thing to die for him. I'd die for MAX.
5/19/02
john waite
jesus!!..check out the motobike crash!..one mother of a movie.completly nuts!
4/01/02
Joe Schulz
I saw a boob
3/19/02
Aborted Gently
It started the Apocalyptic movie crazy. Fucking beautiful.
1/10/02
Mr. Hat (formerly Joe Zappa)
Mostly kinda boring until the last half hour.
11/25/01
Mathias Österman
Shame about the American over-dubb though
10/02/01
Phoenix
Cheesy, but still a classic.
8/19/01
Babybelle
Spooky little film. Grows on ya tho'
7/06/01
Genghiz Tanghe
I like this movie. Good humor and nice desert scenes.
4/05/01
Hawkeye
The first time through it just seems weird, but it'll grow on you, promise. A great film.
3/23/01
viking
a landmark Aussie movie
1/25/01
dave Underhill
get off this film rocks especially the twist at the end excelent writing and acting!!!
12/27/00
fifu
it was entertaining but good enough to be a classic, i like road warrior better
5/21/00
Jess
Watch this Road Warrior and Babe 2 all one night you will see genius.
2/11/00
MarshyMan
This is how the best films are- make by desperate to prove themselves filmmakes. Not Babe!!
1/12/00
John Markham
COMPLETE DUNG!
11/03/99
Todd
This is by far the best of the series, Mel Gibson is awesome in it.
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