The Furnace (2020) User Reviews

Good concept but could have been better executed

[hedley-finger · 6/10 · 15 December 2020]

The ingredients are rich: in the 19th century outback, aboriginals, prospectors, Chinese, cameleers (uniformly referred to as Afghans even though they come from many Middle Eastern cultures), graziers, peddlers, Moslems, Hindus, troopers, and station hands negotiate wary relations. A hardbitten prospector has stolen gold in his possession and needs to find a way to legitimise it. He falls in with a cameleer and they trek across the desert to escape the law and other criminals in pursuit.

This is an outback thriller trying to be a deep and meaningful arthouse excursion. The slow pace eventually becomes tedious and a couple of plot glitches irritate. Talented actors work hard and turn in excellent performances, but they are fighting the director.

A well written borefest

[adenrourkefisher · 7/10 · 27 December 2020]

The Furnace is unique to me in that the story was well written and balanced, the acting was great as was the casting and production- however despite my appreciation for the film's heart i found it entirely boring.

i think what bored me was that the movie followed the usual odd couple western tropes, old man and young out- of- place sidekick start out rocky and find common ground. antiquated story telling and nothing too original other the the movie's beautiful setting.

if it wernt so boring it's be a 9.

good period piece from aussie director

[ksf-2 · 7/10 · 13 August 2023]

Strike one... tiny, white captions on white backgounds. Much of the beginning of the film is told in foreign languages, and was completely missed. Frustrating. This was released during the early part of the pandemic. Period piece, beginning in 1897. Australia commerce relied on the camel and their mostly mid eastern handlers to get things where they needed to be. But when a foreman shoots the handlers, things quickly quickly fall apart. And the gold they were transporting disappears. Now the queen's army must find the escaped men before they can get to a furnace to melt the gold down, erasing the queen's mark. It's all about the journey. Really well done! Interesting story. Written and directed by roderick mackay. I look forward to more from him. The leads, ahmed malek and david wenham, both have interesting backgrounds. Check em out!

Little background research.

[rdevahlrubin · 1/10 · 28 March 2021]

The cameleers that came to WA were greatly regarded and respected after the 1880s Afghan Wars for their courage and were not discriminated against at all. Before road traffic in the Pilbara the camels were a vital part of supply and extremely well treated. This is a woke revision.

Bear in mind nowadays the only wild camel herds in the world are in WA in the Great Simpson Desert after they were let go in the 1910s when motors arrived and those Afghans settled into the community as well regarded citizens.

A story is a story, fine, but stories that warp fact aren't acceptable. My family has been up there since 1895 and benefitted then from the cameleers from Broome to Perth. They were highly regarded and honoured.

Keep making movies Roderick

[BobbySandhu-01 · 10/10 · 28 October 2020]

I went to the limited screening of The Furnace at Perth to watch it from the perspective of Sikh community, but I ended up forgetting that and got immersed into the film's astonishing narrative. In my opinion there is something for everyone in this film, a weekend watcher will enjoy the quest side of it, a regular watcher will enjoy the exposition of characters without need of too many dialogues, the acting, the beautiful pace of the film and an avid watcher will end up finding a lot of subtle touches within the film like the significance of the dates and the fallen tree.

Roderick is the director and writer of the film and to me that is the most beautiful arrangement. To him I say, keep making movies. Nothing that he creates in future will be dull or lazy. This film could have gone wrong at so many points, but it's very finely put together. It clearly shows that Roderick understands the pitfalls of lazy writing and how Hollywood ruins beautiful constructed plots by giving into establishing larger than life characters or clichéd plot devices. None of that here.

A word has to be said about the editing and the soundtrack of the film. Editing is so subtle, so gentle and well done that it is pretty much a lesson in how to pace a slow burner. A plot like this usually suffers from unnecessary exposition and long monologues or the lack of them and long cinematic shots which try to create importance of the narrative by trying to convince you that this is an important and serious work of art (The Grey comes to mind) - pretty much spoon feeding the viewer. But in The Furnace, the editor balanced the film so well that in my opinion a lot of big budget Hollywood films can learn a lot from it.

And of course, the reason why I was invited by one of my mates to go to this screening. The film is historically quite accurate. Sikhs and Muslims have been part of the Australian outback longer than many could imagine. Their stories, rituals and routines are nicely interwoven into the fabric of the film. The turbans are accurate (for once). Many a times I've been pissed at the ready made look of Sikh turbans but in the Furnace, they are proper. Being a Sikh I can say, yes, that is us.

Well done. It's so fulfilling to see Australian cinema coming into its own. It's a film that me, a Sikh and an Australian, is proud of.

Looks great but didn't deliver

[Alex78cd · 2/10 · 24 April 2021]

Looks like a lot of work was put into this so I feel this may be harsh but this story was a chore to sit through. I appreciated the sentiment but it was just one cliche after another. Good performances and some nice photography the only thing that kept me watching.

Gold can drive you crazy

[seremarti · 9/10 · 5 October 2020]

This is not a typical western movie, so if you are looking for shootings and horse chases you are in the wrong place. The western story part is just used to show the personal journey of the young Afghan cameeler Hanif and an excuse to show a part of Australian history that risks not to be told. Three highlights that make The Furnace a worth watching movie: 1 - Maleck's acting chops: this is his first gig in the international movie world and he did a wonderful job showing his internal suffering and emotions. All the actors are well casted and invested in the story. 2 - Stunning landscape: this movie needs an award for photography 3 - the representation of "fathers and son" relationship and the father-like figure. Blessed to have seen the premiere in the wonderful location of La Biennale in Venice

I didn't like it

[caibsta · 3/10 · 13 February 2021]

Far out it reminded me of a small insecure child who needed to bully people to feel better about them self. Really didn't feel anything but pity.

Tropes and cliches in a woke western

[mformoviesandmore · 4/10 · 24 December 2021]

The basic story has been done many times in an endless number of westerns. Lots of cliches and tropes weaved together in like a very poor man's The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

The difference here is that it is set in Australia and seems to be trying to weave in an array of 'diversity' with the ethnicities of the characters but the acting is poor and you'd have to have been born yesterday (or be madly woke) to consider this anything other than a b-grade movie.

Captivating, authentic and unique

[hollymitchell-98582 · 10/10 · 16 January 2021]

This film captures a side to West Australian history I've not seen in a film before, beautifully told with a narrative that pays homage to the traditional owners of this land, their languages and customs. A really fascinating story that had me gripped from the first scene!!!

Not well researched!!!

[elwood187 · 3/10 · 23 December 2021]

This is a perfect movie for those who are immersed in the current political environments agenda of social justice. This is also a perfect movie for those who are too lazy to do research into actual Australian history. Sadly, it's a horrendous movie for those who actually know the history around this region and time. I gave 3 stars as a participation award.

A film that moves and gets thinking, instilling hope

[ilabos · 10/10 · 6 October 2020]

The story, set in stunning locations, is always intense, moving and suspanceful, from beginning to end, with many highlights. Through its harsh landscapes, rough characters, tough stories, perfectly represented and real, 'The Furnace' moves you, remains in your heart, gets you thinking, instills hope. The film brings to light a piece of Australian history, example of inclusion and humility, and treats important issues that must be a warning to people today. Intelligent and sensitive direction and cast are visibly very involved. I haven't seen a film in a long time that has moved me so much. Grateful to have had the chance to see it at Venice Biennale. A must see.

Why make this film?

[mcleanmuir · 4/10 · 4 April 2021]

I could not even describe this as a slow burner. I watched it till the end because I thought it would get better but sadly it did not. I would rather have watched a silent cowboy film.

Rubbish

[phippysma · 1/10 · 7 February 2021]

Very disappointing vehicle for the talent of David Wenham. The premise of the story was so promising but the execution was painfully slow and the use of different languages without any subtitling rendered it frustrating and largely pointless. Added to that there was a distinct lack of continuity in places which added to the confusion. Don't bother.

Intelligent, suspenseful and entertaining

[katrinab-10229 · 10/10 · 7 September 2020]

While this film grabs you with its excellent performances, stunning landscapes and suspenseful, action-packed storyline, the real beauty of it lies in the way the experiences of so many diverse cultures battling to survive such a harsh environment are so intelligently and empathetically drawn. It was wonderful to watch a movie that worked so well on so many levels and left me thinking about it for days. I even went back and watched it a second time so I could take it all in. I learnt something about a relatively little known part of our history and the messages contained in 'The Furnace' still resonate today.

Totally immersive and engaging

[yvonnem-97046 · 9/10 · 30 November 2020]

Drawing you in from the first few scenes, The Furnace has you thinking on many levels. This wonderful movie educates as much as it entertains. Meticulous research grounds The Furnace in the reality of the time, providing a strength and depth to the characters and storyline which, along with the stunning panoramas of the timeless West Australian outback, makes watching it such a pleasure.

Australian ( A+ Movie) My Ratings 9 /10

[THE-BEACON-OF-MOVIES-RAFA · 9/10 · 19 January 2022]

Life is complex and mysterious we are all unique and different from around the world , many don't have the time to understand or feel rather goes for easy quick judgment & decision .

Anyway

The Furnace is a rugged, sometimes compelling film about a lesser known part of Australian history. Set in Western Australia in 1897 it involves a land of danger and violence and gold.

Have a meaning full watch.

Gripping from the first few minutes

[lynettekelly-86678 · 10/10 · 1 December 2020]

Captivating from the first few minutes. A must for all who already know this part of Australia's history and a must for those who don't. Brilliant cast, beautifully shot and superb acting. So many paralells with our country today. A movie not easily forgotten.

A must watch for every Australian

[samsinghba · 9/10 · 25 November 2020]

I loved the narrative, culture and heritage we all Australians share. A great work from the Director and the team. Watch and learn about amazing Australian story.

Attention AACTA award voters!!!

[margieryan-69860 · 10/10 · 11 December 2020]

Heads up AACTA awards voting members...'The Furnace' is a once in a decade treasure!

This intense masterpiece has been storylined, scripted, acted, filmed and edited in glorious, brave and deeply beautiful grace and dignity.

Try to hopelessly resist being swept up, engrossed and bewildered by this film.

Try to deny that it causes you to question long-held beliefs and the accuracy of the source from which they were borne.

This is a film which truly does fearlessly break new ground.

What a priceless Aussie gem!!!

A dystopian future set in the past

[Phil_M_A_Kerr · 10/10 · 20 December 2020]

Nails epic western tone ... in Australia! Haven't felt such a punch in the guts since Samson And Delilah. Wenham is off his chops in this one. It's all internal but it rips. His costar's naïveté strikes the perfect balance. This summer's sleeper hit. I had no idea it was gonna be that good. Maybe I should see it a second time to make sure. Big screen viewing is a must.

Brilliant cops and robbers movie in our own Wild West of Australia!

[affyb79 · 10/10 · 22 October 2020]

I loved watching cowboy and indian movies when I was a kid, so love that we have our own version in Western Australia set amongst the backdrop of the goldrush in 1897.

Whilst it's a brilliant fictional western movie, I love that it quietly interweaves stories of cameleers that made significant contributions enabling critical infrastructure to be developed which brought major economic and social benefits to Australia.

Writer and producer Roderick MacKay has honored the many communities these cameleers came from by taking the time to learn and portray their important but forgotten history as a central theme that runs throughout the movie. Telling this story are actors from diverse backgrounds. The protaganist, Ahmed Malek is Egyptian. Osamah Sami is Persian. Mahesh Jadu and Kaushik Das have Indian heritage. Baykali Ganambarr and Trevor Jamieson are indigenous. Oh and David Wenham and Jay Ryan are in it too!

Go see it if you love westerns or cowboy and indian movies. Go see it if you like a great story and love beautiful and vast landscapes of the Australian outback. But you MUST watch it if you are Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Afghan, Persian or Punjabi!

Fantastic

[ekerr-43491 · 9/10 · 18 January 2021]

This was shockingly great. Everyone should see it once, and then again and again.

Amazing in Many Ways

[charlie-50957 · 10/10 · 21 September 2020]

The acting is just awesome. You forget to pay attention to the equally amazing landscape and sound track. It really portrays the Aussie outback as it was and is, without having do deal with the flies!

Fantastic Directorship

[bill-65017 · 10/10 · 29 November 2020]

This movie has been extraordinary directed. It has a great cast and the story line is intriguing.