Out of the Furnace (B or 3/4 stars)
'Out of the Furnace', a heavy, gritty, backwoods drama directed by Scott Cooper (2009's Crazy Heart), is one of those movies that gets a rare pass from me based almost exclusively on the strength of the ensemble acting. This movie a slow burn thriller that is occasionally interrupted by sudden bursts of violence. And thematically, it explores the link btwn. justice & revenge as it follows characters who turn desperate while in the vortex of an economic collapse. Problem is, that theme is not explored as deeply as it could have been. And the awkward pacing/structure of the film detracts from the overall effect. More on that later.
The film takes place in Braddock, Pennsylvania, a rural steel town where poverty has crippled the working class. Rodney Baze (Casey Affleck) was one of the few town dwellers who refused to work in the steel "mill" & couldn't wait to get the hell outta Braddock. He's already served 3(!) tours of duty in Iraq & is about to return there yet again ... but he's struggling with PTSD. Adding to his problems, Rodney owes $$ to local bookie/loan shark, John Petty (Willem Dafoe). We also meet Rodney's older brother Russell (Christian Bale), a hardworking man who busts his butt at the mill to make ends meet. Russell is used to cleaning up his irresponsible brother's messes. But he faces his own mess one fateful evening when he drunkenly crashes into another car, killing a woman & child in the process.
While in prison, his girlfriend Lena (Zoe Saldana) leaves him for a sturdy relationship with the town sheriff, Wesley Barnes (Forest Whitaker). After being released from jail, Russell is reunited with younger brother Rodney who has just finished his last tour of duty. Having recently won a few secretive bare-knuckle fights with John Petty as his sponsor, Rodney wants him to set up a high-stakes match run by inbred sociopath Harlan DeGroat (Woody Harrelson), a notorious crime lord (and meth-head) who runs his own fighting/drug operation in the backwoods of southern NJ. Petty is hesitant to deal with the treacherous Harlan, who is known for his cold-blooded demeanor & deadly rage. The fight is set up anyway, and Rodney & Petty head-off for Jersey. But when Rodney & Petty fail to return from the boxing match, Russell ignores the sheriff's warnings about not taking matters into his own hands. And from here on out, Russell's anger/despair fuels his vengeance.
Because 'Out of the Furnace' is a slow burner, it makes one wonder if the time & patience it demands is all worth it in the end. For me, the performances got me through. Christian Bale is exceptional; his method acting allows him to get deep under Russell's skin. Russell is a tragic figure; having lived a life full of sadness & disappointments. He (& Affleck) convinces us of the brotherly love btwn. Russell & Rodney. By the end, Russell has little to hold on to except the sense that a wrong has been done & his sole responsibility is to right it. The consequences he might suffer are of no matter. And though Russell is responsible for several deaths & wrongdoings, Bale gets us to sympathize with him anyway. Watching this inherently good man's descent into darkness is quite moving.
I think one of the large issues that the film faces it that while it wants to be an epic revenge saga, the actual plot is too meandering & uninteresting. We focus on the intriguing setting, the dingy atmosphere, the bursts of violence, & some superb acting choices by the cast (including Saldana, Sam Shepard, etc.). All that said, the actual STORY is not nearly as enticing. And as mentioned above, while the movie wants to be a compelling meditation about the economic collapse in time-warped communities, revenge/justice, & the aftermath of veterans who can't adapt to life back home ... those topics weren't tapped into enough. Out of the Furnace's nihilism may also turn off some viewers & its meditative style may make others antsy for a more active thriller. But there are many aspects that I admire.
The film takes place in Braddock, Pennsylvania, a rural steel town where poverty has crippled the working class. Rodney Baze (Casey Affleck) was one of the few town dwellers who refused to work in the steel "mill" & couldn't wait to get the hell outta Braddock. He's already served 3(!) tours of duty in Iraq & is about to return there yet again ... but he's struggling with PTSD. Adding to his problems, Rodney owes $$ to local bookie/loan shark, John Petty (Willem Dafoe). We also meet Rodney's older brother Russell (Christian Bale), a hardworking man who busts his butt at the mill to make ends meet. Russell is used to cleaning up his irresponsible brother's messes. But he faces his own mess one fateful evening when he drunkenly crashes into another car, killing a woman & child in the process.
While in prison, his girlfriend Lena (Zoe Saldana) leaves him for a sturdy relationship with the town sheriff, Wesley Barnes (Forest Whitaker). After being released from jail, Russell is reunited with younger brother Rodney who has just finished his last tour of duty. Having recently won a few secretive bare-knuckle fights with John Petty as his sponsor, Rodney wants him to set up a high-stakes match run by inbred sociopath Harlan DeGroat (Woody Harrelson), a notorious crime lord (and meth-head) who runs his own fighting/drug operation in the backwoods of southern NJ. Petty is hesitant to deal with the treacherous Harlan, who is known for his cold-blooded demeanor & deadly rage. The fight is set up anyway, and Rodney & Petty head-off for Jersey. But when Rodney & Petty fail to return from the boxing match, Russell ignores the sheriff's warnings about not taking matters into his own hands. And from here on out, Russell's anger/despair fuels his vengeance.
Because 'Out of the Furnace' is a slow burner, it makes one wonder if the time & patience it demands is all worth it in the end. For me, the performances got me through. Christian Bale is exceptional; his method acting allows him to get deep under Russell's skin. Russell is a tragic figure; having lived a life full of sadness & disappointments. He (& Affleck) convinces us of the brotherly love btwn. Russell & Rodney. By the end, Russell has little to hold on to except the sense that a wrong has been done & his sole responsibility is to right it. The consequences he might suffer are of no matter. And though Russell is responsible for several deaths & wrongdoings, Bale gets us to sympathize with him anyway. Watching this inherently good man's descent into darkness is quite moving.
I think one of the large issues that the film faces it that while it wants to be an epic revenge saga, the actual plot is too meandering & uninteresting. We focus on the intriguing setting, the dingy atmosphere, the bursts of violence, & some superb acting choices by the cast (including Saldana, Sam Shepard, etc.). All that said, the actual STORY is not nearly as enticing. And as mentioned above, while the movie wants to be a compelling meditation about the economic collapse in time-warped communities, revenge/justice, & the aftermath of veterans who can't adapt to life back home ... those topics weren't tapped into enough. Out of the Furnace's nihilism may also turn off some viewers & its meditative style may make others antsy for a more active thriller. But there are many aspects that I admire.