Mad Max: Fury Road - 10 Reasons Critics Are Calling It A Masterpiece
9. Charlize Theron's Imperator Furiosa
"This spectacularly great reboot is surprisingly owned not by Hardy, who is fine, but by Charlize Theron." - Lou Lumenick, New York Post "Fury Roads alpha male is, in fact, a woman: the rogue soldier Imperator Furiosa, played by Charlize Theron. Like Ripley in the Alien films, the character is informed by her sex but not defined by it, and Theron superbly embodies her stoicism, nerve and resolve." - Robbie Collin, The Telegraph
It turns out, then, that Tom Hardy - who critics have also praised for his worthwhile performance - is not quite key to the movie's success. It is, in fact, Charlize Theron's resourceful and defiantly tough heroine, Imperator Furiosa, who sounds like she could give even Sigourney Weaver's most iconic character a run for her money. Going by the reviews, it's clear that George Miller has clearly thought about gender stereotypes whilst putting Fury Road together, and has subverted all expectations with regards to his female characters. Imperator Furiosa is no damsel in distress; she's the one putting the gas to the pedal. "This is unusually progressive stuff," writes Robbie Collin.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
