How ' Mad Max' director George Miller survived making films on a low budget

Discovering the unknown actor Mel Gibson

The valuable element of this film is that it catapulted Mel Gibson, who was still an unknown actor at the time, to stardom. Mel Gibson was born in America, but moved to Australia in 1968 after his father's business failed. After The Graduate from high school, he received a scholarship to study the basics of acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art, a prestigious institution that has produced Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving. After playing bit roles in several films, he auditioned for the lead role in Mad Max and suddenly became an international star.

For ``Tim'' (1979), released in the same year, he won Best Actor and Best Newcomer at the Sammy Awards, known as Australia's Academy. After breaking into Hollywood with `` The Dangerous Year '' (1982), he solidified his status as a star with popular works such as `` Lethal Weapon '' (1987). After that, he entered the film directing industry with `` Faceless Angel '' (1993), and continues to be active as both an actor and a director. It can be said that Mel Gibson would not exist today if it were not for the director George Miller, who discovered Mel, and the worldwide success of this film. This is precisely where the significance of this work lies.

"Mad Max" (c) 2013 Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Wearing a leather jacket and protector, Max looks like a lone The Samurai from a period drama, and even gives off a gray appearance that mixes lawlessness and order like a western movie. Yet, it also has a slight aroma of American new cinema, as exemplified by ` `Easy Rider '' (69).

However, although the influence of such past products can be felt, a major factor in establishing the unique worldview of "Mad Max" is still the existence of Max Rockatansky, that is, the existence of Mel Gibson himself. Because of that.

Deepening the cultural characteristics of historical dramas, Western films, and even American New Cinema, this film creates a unique end-of-the-century world. This film, which projected the reality of Australia at the time onto a new worldview, appeared like a comet in the Australian film industry and demonstrated the presence of Australian cinema around the world. It can be said that the harmony between Mel Gibson's numbing aura and desolate worldview supported the success of this work.

Text: Hayato Otsuki

Born in May 1993 in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Writer, editor. He started his writing career in 2016 and currently contributes columns, movie reviews, etc. to various media. By reading the creator's Arrival from a bird's-eye view, we incisively analyze and explain the original intention of the work. His writing publications include "THE RIVER", "IGN Japan", and "Real Sound Movie Club". My specialty is action and fantasy.

Watch now

View work information

“Mad Max” now available digitally

Blu-ray ¥2,381 + tax / DVD ¥1,429 + tax

warner bros home entertainment

(c) 2013 Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.