OUT OF THE FURNACE
US, 2012, 106 minutes, Colour.
Christian Bale, Woody Harrelson, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Forest Whittaker, Zoe Saldana, Tom Bower, Willem Dafoe.
Directed by Scott Cooper.
This is a film which depends on word-of-mouth from audiences.
Many audiences seeing the film will find it too grim, its outlook too bleak, some of its violence too confronting, and will advise others not to go to see the film. On the other hand, film buffs who appreciate well-made films, no matter how depressing in their presentation of character and society, will recommend other buffs to see it.
The setting is an industrial area in the countryside of Pennsylvania as well is the hills of the state of New Jersey. The look of the film is wintry, iron-grey in its tone. The factories look ugly, inside and out. And the action of the film takes place in some squalid settings, especially for bare-knuckle fights, bars and clubs, and dingy houses. Commentators have noted that it is a depressing picture of the United States since the world financial collapse and a picture of the desperation of people struggling to make a living, as well as people who are exploiters and their victims. The title indicates the theme, people trying to escape from the furnace but still in the fire.
The film was written and directed by Scott Cooper who made the interesting film about travelling singers, Crazy Heart.
Apart from the effectively bleak photography and the use of the locations, the film has a fine cast. Now in his middle age, former child star, Christian Bale, has proven himself a considerable actor (Oscar for The Fighter, award nominations for American Hustle). Here, he is an ordinary man, struggling to make a living, looking out for his younger brother (Casey Affleck) who is about to go out and serve in the Middle East wars. Carelessly drinking and driving, he is responsible for the death of a child in a car accident. He serves his time and then comes out to re-establish his life. His wife (Zoe Saldana) has left him for the local police officer (Forest Whitaker). His brother has returned from his service and is a changed person, for a desperate worse. He has been involved in bareknuckle fights, trying to pay off other debts to a small-time entrepreneur (Willem Dafoe).
But, right from the beginning of the film, we have been alerted and warned. The film is introduced at a drive-in, where Woody Harrelson is brutally violent towards a woman and some of the patrons of the drive-in. Then he disappears from the film only to be reintroduced in an even more violent and brutal manner.
By this time, the audience will realise that Out of the Furnace is going to be something of a revenge a touch of the vigilante. And that it is the Christian Bale character, despite pleas and warnings, who will do the confronting, trying to achieve some kind of justice.
In most ways this is a film to be admired rather than enjoyed, the dirty mirror, so to speak, reflecting the downside of 21st-century American society.
1. A bleak film? American society in the 21st century? After the global financial meltdown? The film as something of a mirror of society? Clear? Distorted?
2. The Pennsylvania, New Jersey, settings, the mountains, industry, the towns? For the bareknuckle fights? Prisons? A grey world? The musical score?
3. The title? Applied to each of the characters?
4. The tone, the opening with De Groat? The drive-in, the woman in the car, his attitude towards her, the vicious violence, the men objecting, the fight and his bashing people? Expectations?
5. The bareknuckle fights, Rodney and his participation? Hard, the opponents, the crowds? De Groat and his involvement? John Petty and his involvement, amounts of money?
6. The contrast with Russell, seen with his wife, his tenderness, wanting a family? His care for his disabled father? The bond with his uncle? Hs looking after Rodney, Rodney and his going on military service, paying his debts to John Petty, Petty is concerned? Drinking, driving, the crash?
7. Prison, serving his term? Events happening while he was in prison, Rodney and his overseas service, his return? His wife leaving him and going to live with Wesley?
8. Rodney, his wanting a final fight, wanting to pay his debts, wanting to leave? His discussions with his brother? Setting up the bout? In the woods? De Groat and the clash? De Groat shooting him in the woods?
9. Russell’s uncle, his character, supportive of Rodney, supportive of Russell?
10. Russell, his search for De Groat, discussions with Wesley, with his wife? The death of John Petty? Dan and the bar, Russell asking his help to find the documents and De Groat address?
11. The character of Rodney, his type, his life and overseas service, at home, wanting to get out?
12. John Petty, as a minor entrepreneur, his office, the debts, his attitude towards Rodney, not wanting to overwhelm him, saying that Russell did not have to pay his brother’s debts? His being killed?
13. Dan, as a character, friendship with Russell, helping him, the arrival of De Groat, the safe and information, his being killed?
14. Russell, the information, the beginning of the pursuit, accompanied by and supported by his uncle? Pretending they were travellers, pretending they wanted drugs, going into the drug house, the dealer, discovering that it was De Groat’s house?
15. De Groat as a character, the drugs, using them himself? Setting up the fights? His demands, brutality? Killing Rodney? Killing John Petty, killing Dan?
16. Russell, the pursuit, taking De Groat, the pursuit, Wesley in the background, urging him not to shoot? The long decision? Executing De Groat? His sense
of justice and revenge?
17. A grim American story, part of the underbelly of American society?
