[Movie Review] Out of the Furnace (2013)

Posted on December 6, 2013 by thegrandshuckett in Movie Reviews // 0 Comments

Plot Summary: When Rodney Baze mysteriously disappears and law enforcement fails to follow through, his older brother, Russell, takes matters into his own hands to find justice.

Director: Scott Cooper

Writers: Scott Cooper, Brad Ingelsby

Runtime: 116 min

Main Cast:

Christian Bale as Russell Baze
Casey Affleck as Rodney Baze Jr.
Zoe Saldana as Lena Warren
Woody Harrelson as Curtis DeBroat
Willem Dafoe as John Petty
Forest Whitaker as Wesley Barnes

Review: by Anthony and Lee

If ever there was a reason to go see a movie simply because of the actor in it, it would be Christian Bale.

What We Liked:

Christian Bale did what he does best; he acted his pants off. He gave it 100%, and pulled out every human emotion possible, from grief and regret to joy and happiness. His character was extraordinarily likable. He was thoughtful, sensitive, and caring, almost to a fault, which was exemplified best in his interactions with his ailing father and his brother.

Bale’s performance was so great that he made those around him better; even his scenes with Zoe Saldana were good. The scene in which they discuss the future of their relationship was arguably the best scene in the entire movie.

Casey Affleck did a pretty good job as well. His portrayal of the struggle that post-war soldiers face when returning to normal life was exceptionally believable.

Woody Harrelson was fantastic. He played the villain so well that we really would like to see him in that role again. In each of his scenes, he was intimidating, threatening, and powerful and was the perfect crazy, could-fly-off-the-handle-at-any-moment-type of lead bad guy.

What We Didn’t Like:

Although Bale’s acting buoyed the supporting actors’ performances in the movie, the roles could have been easily filled by lesser known actors. Forest Whitaker was completely pointless and did not add to any scenes in terms of acting or plot development.

Also, the ending was lacking something vital. The entire movie built up to one point, but after it happened there was no resolution or follow-up to show the consequences of the actions.

Summary

Out of the Furnace was a decent movie. The acting was fantastic, and it was an emotional ride; but, the ending definitely left something to be desired. If you are a Christian Bale fan, however, it is a must see.

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