George Miller, the legendary filmmaker behind the iconic Mad Max series, is once again delving into monochromatic territory. It’s confirmed that his latest film, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, will receive a black-and-white edition dubbed Tinted Black and Chrome.
Miller announced this version during an appearance on Josh Horowitz’s podcast, Happy Sad Confused. The decision to create a monochrome edition stems from his ongoing fascination with the format. As Miller explained, I must say, it’s really interesting. I’m still trying to demystify why the black and white, for me, has something more elemental to it.
Miller’s Vision for Furiosa
The upcoming Furiosa, featuring Anya Taylor-Joy as the titular character, differs significantly from its predecessor, Mad Max: Fury Road. While Fury Road was a relentless, high-octane chase spread over a few days, Miller describes Furiosa as an odyssey spanning 15 years. This new narrative depth offers fresh opportunities for exploring the stark visual landscape in both color and monochrome.
The Influence of Black and Chrome
This is not Miller’s first foray into black-and-white editions. In 2016, he released the critically acclaimed Black and Chrome Edition of Mad Max: Fury Road. Describing it as “the best version of the movie,” Miller initially envisioned releasing Fury Road solely in black and white before deciding against it.
The 2016 release highlighted how removing color intensity allows other elements like cinematography and performances to shine through more dramatically. “It’s like if we took a picture of ourselves right now; it might look a little more dramatic if it was black and white,” said Miller.
The Historical Context of Monochrome Films
The trend of releasing modern blockbusters in black and white isn’t entirely new but remains relatively uncommon. Iconic films like James Mangold’s Logan Noir, Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite (Black-and-White Edition), and Zack Snyder’s Justice Is Gray Edition have experimented with this format. Nonetheless, George Miller’s steadfast engagement with monochromatic storytelling is unique.
Miller’s choice dates back to seeing the original cut of The Road Warrior (Mad Max II) in black and white during its scoring process. This profound experience planted the seeds for his subsequent BLACK AND CHROME ventures.
A New Chapter for Furiosa
The Tinted Black & Chrome edition of Furiosa isn’t just a stylistic choice but also a nod to the legacy and narrative difference between the films. While they share commonalities in terms of character dynamics and settings within the same Mad Max universe, Furiosa‘s deeper storytelling offers much-needed contrast to its intense visual spectacle.
If history repeats itself, lovers of intense visual storytelling may find Tinted Black & Chrome brings forth a surprising kind of thematic clarity – one that honors the traditions while looking forward to future possibilities.
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