Monday, December 09, 2013

Another film, 'Out of the Furnace,' portrays Appalachia as violent, drug-filled world

The Appalachian-based film "Out of the Furnace" debuted over the weekend to less than stellar box-office numbers. But the $22 million film's $5.3 million take wasn't bad, considering everyone involved probably has just one eye on the box office and the other on the upcoming awards season. Just about all the stars—Christian Bale, Forest Whitaker, Sam Shephard, Woody Harrellson, Willem Dafoe and Casey Affleck—has either won or been nominated for an Academy Award. (Rotten Tomatoes photo: Christian Bale in "Out of the Furnace")

The movie, which takes place in Pennsylvania, is another in the long line of films that doesn't paint Appalachia as the greatest place to live, with drugs and violence ruling the day. But the release of the movie got Jay Fernandez of Word and Film thinking about other movies and novels set in Appalachia. He discusses both how Hollywood has displayed Appalachia on the big screen and how novelists have painted the region in words. (Read more)

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