Stunningly good Australian film – the best ever made here? – which still holds up well. There was never a cooler action hero than Max, battered and worn (cf the callow youth of the first film), with his tousled hair and leather, not to mention his great dog and car. That’s one of the many things about this movie that are incredibly Aussie despite it being set in a post-apocalyptic never-never land: plus the crippled mechanic smart enough to figure out the bomb on the car who insists on going in the truck at the end (love that dialogue exchange with his dopey mate about when the truck can be ready); Syd Heylen; the gay bikies doing circle work; the 80s era fashion.
Mel Gibson is terrific in the lead – one of my favourite bits of movie star acting ever is his tired, resigned smile to Bruce Spence at the end – but he’s backed by a strong support cast, including hands-on tormented henchman Wes (put on a chain by his boss); Emily Minty as the Feral Kid (looking genuinely feral); Virginia Hey as a terrific Amazon woman (oh so 80s), sweet Arkie Whitely; good egg Mike Preston (whose death scene is kind of thrown away); likeable Bruce Spence; imposing Humungous (who seems to genuinely believe the promises he makes); the dog. It’s a fabulous film and a credit to all who made it.
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