Good On Ya, Ben

Yesterday, one of the guys I’ve been surfing with went back home to New Zealand. Ben cut quite a figure. A lean and rangy guy probably in his early 50s, his arms and shoulders were be-decked in Maori tattoos. A strong, charging surfer, he had intense blue eyes, and walked over the reef in his bare feet like it was grass. He reminded me of Wez in the Road Warrior.

Once I got to know Ben, he was a really gentle guy and not at all like Wez who, I believe it’s fair to argue, is one of the all-time bad guys in movie history .

If you consider the sum total of Wez’ actual dialogue consisted of a few sentences—and that much of his villainy was portrayed nonverbal ly—one must at least consider the notion that Vernon Wells was unfairly bypassed for a Best Supporting Actor nod (the 1981 Academy Award was won by John Gielgud in “Arthur.” Remember him? I don’t.)

From a brief bit of research, the sum total of his dialogue appears to be as follows (not including any yells, grunts etc.):

“Go, go, go”.

Context: Demonstrating his leadership skills, Wez is exhorting his team to leave their tents and pursue Mel’s character, who is driving through their camp ground in a semi and will likely crush the team if they do not follow Wez’ instructions. While clearly not a manager of, say, GE’s Jack Welch capabilities, the scene nonetheless communicates that Wez is a decisive and effective leader; especially given that one must assume he has had minimal formal leadership training.

“You!!!! You can run, but you can’t hide.”

Context: Wez communicates that he has become increasingly frustrated with Mel’s tendency to foil his various schemes. We have witnessed Wez direct and/or commit murder, rape, lethal headbutts and other violent behavior—and those victims hadn’t even pissed him off. Well's brilliant use of nonverbal techniques in conjunction with this line (angry pointing, growling and blazing, homicidal glares) communicates the words left out: that if Wez does catch Mel, things will turn grisly and in all likelihood there will be no sequel.

“No more talk! We go in! We kill! Kill! We kill 'em! They kill us, we kill them! Kill 'em! Kill 'em! Kill! Kill!”

Context: Wez’s boy lover has been killed by a steel boomerang to the skull. Heartbroken and beside himself with grief, he recommends to his boss (The Lord Humungous) a new course of action with regard the siege of a small community in which his gang is involved—i.e., terminating their existence with extreme prejudice.

While the harsh post-apocalyptic environment that is the movie’s backdrop is clearly not a fecund one for romance, Vernon Well’s convincing homicidal/maniacal response to the death of Wez ‘boy speaks volumes regarding their relationship. It is also a poignant reminder that love can take root in the most unlikely of places—and between the most unlikely of people. It’s hard for any viewer who has loved and lost not to relate to Wez’ anguish, though the impulse to respond by wiping out an entire community seems like an overly violent response through the lens of our own social conventions.

The character of Wez even more striking when considered against the backdrop of other top action movie villains. Scanning the top of American Film Institute’s “100 Years, 100 Villains”, one sees Darth Vader, The Shark (Jaws), Norman Bates, Nurse Ratchet, Hannibal Lector, The Terminator, etc. Common to all of these characters is a lack of a significant other and meaningful relationship—certainly nothing approximating love. Perhaps it is precisely the implacable nature of a foe that has no feelings for anyone or anything that contributes to their high-ranking villainy.

Not only does Wez have a partner, it is a young man; it is worth observing that one might have to go back as far as Achilles and Patroclus for such a vivid portrayal of male love amidst war in Western media and myth. Ironically, it is perhaps Wez’ ultimate humanity and vulnerability that helps to make him such an indelible part of celluloid history.

Or maybe I just really need this wind to stop blowing out the surf.