I loved Casey Affleck's and Christian Bale's performances. In my opinion, one of the best movies of both of them. Revenge can be taken in two ways: the legal way, or the correct way.

OK won't make it too long; just to say that some accents here remind me Michael Cimino's masterpiece: Pittsburgh vicinity, steel factories, deep America, war veterans, unemployed people, darkness, and a deer hunter scene. Besides, that's for me a true film noir.

"Out of the furnace" starts off with big potential, exhibiting a cast that promises much more than what it delivers. The problem is not with the actors, nor with the director, per se. The problem is that all these fantastic actors did not get any space to develop in the movie. What we're shown are two broken brothers, forsaken by society, living with the bare minimum (but a pretty good house they have there, don't you agree?). Casey Affleck plays the younger brother that is already beyond repair, and, sadly, doesn't get enough screen time to develop any further. On the other hand, Bale, our protagonist, is the focus of this story. Throughout the movie he is slowing being broken, to a point that leads to the final climax of the movie. Now I should commend the fantastic and tense build up the movie makes, however, I'm on edge here. I really want to rant about the ending. Without spoiling anything, after all the good work done through, "Out of the furnace" spirals down to the same old recipe of an ending, being ridiculously stretched out and overly melodramatic. The movie set a tone of realism in the beginning (with a touch of social commentary) but failed to sustain the same style through to the end. All other side characters are left aside, playing small roles that don't allow any development. It's a shame. It's a waste. It could've been a lot more and that's what really kills the movie to me. It could've been a lot more.

The sound editor should be shot. The sound on this movie sucks. I have to go to a low of 10 to a high of 55 on my Sony Bravia just to hear what the actors are saying. Over all the movie is not bad but the sound sucks!!!!!!! Lighting and story line seems to be an issue too. Story is that the older brother is to rescue the younger brother, yet it appears that is the other way around. WHO IS THE OLDER BROTHER? I'm guessing Christian Bale. So why is he in jail? one backward movie. Not enough of Zoe as Hollywood is trying to make her a star. Don't know why anybody would want to spoil it, because it is a "B" movie at best. Funny how Actors grab at roles to stay on top when they are being forgotten. Entertaining? Just something to watch on a Saturday afternoon.