Reviews:
Christian Bale and Casey Affleck offer grace notes in this very gritty revenge film formula.
Revenge takes several forms, except in movies. When someone makes a revenge film, no matter how “realistic,” the protagonist usually knows what’s up. There are steps taken to eliminate the bad guy, usually then followed with exact precision, the hero shooting straight, the villain getting a tidy, inevitable comeuppance, and, in some more contemporary films, a brief, often insincere meditation on the cycle of violence. And for all that fancy buildup, Out of the Furnace is pretty much one of those movies.
What stands out in this moody thriller is the small, believable touches. Much of that comes from Christian Bale who, away from a cape and cowl, has often specialized in more minute character work, where his performances quietly add reality and nuance to their surroundings without standing out. As Russell Baze, he’s all sinewy limbs and hangdog expressions, with a beard that seems carved into a frown even when he smiles. You only need to look at Russell to see that he’s a part of an economically-strapped environment, a product of dashed dreams and heavy expectations. Before Russell even says anything substantial, Bale’s eyes alone convey that this guy does some heavy lifting when he gets off his factory job.
We soon learn he’s putting food on the table for himself and his brother Rodney, played by Casey Affleck with his customary thousand-mile stare. Rodney feels like he’s supposed to be a bit younger than Affleck is playing him, but you accept it because he’s specialized in playing scrappy underdogs his whole career, and physically Casey’s always going to seem less imposing than his Oscar-winning brother. His Rodney is the type who went off to the Middle East and came back disappointed that there was no parade. While post-service employment seems like a reality, it also seems likely that some of those opportunities won’t reach the town of Rust Belt, Pennsylvania, and the ones that do don’t interest Rodney, who sees the factory as one of the last steps towards a dull life. read more at: https://www.denofgeek.us/movies/out-of-the-furnace/231263/out-of-the-furnace-review
