TF:
Christian Bale’s first performance post-Bruce Wayne is a reminder of just how effectively his earthy, simmering humanity can ground an otherwise flimsy narrative.
In a role that recalls his beleaguered rancher in 3:10 To Yuma, Bale plays salt-of-the-earth mill worker Russell, a character who seems designed to suffer stoically. His live wire younger brother, Rodney (Casey Affleck) is restless and volatile, burnt out by his most recent tour in Iraq and hell-bent on avoiding a life of manual labour.
The brothers’ bond is movingly drawn; in contrast to much of the film’s macho posturing, there’s real poignancy in their clashes.
Despite moments of near-satirical bite there’s a sense that the film is revelling too much in its own unyielding misery. Brutal twists and violent face-offs come so thick and fast in the third act that their impact is numbing, and the vengeful trajectory for Bale’s everyman is intelligently played but easy to map from the off.
With the new The Crow remake coming soon, we take a look back at the 30-year-old cult classic original–and where the stars are now.
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