Our Movie Critic's Weekend Selections

Out of the Furnace Casey Affleck and Christian Bale are brothers facing hard times and hard choices in this gripping Rust Belt noir. A solemn, blood-soaked drama about broken dreams. Cue the Springsteen. R

Nebraska Bruce Dern in a career-defining performance as an ornery coot who believes he's won a $1 million prize, and heads from Montana to Nebraska to claim it. His son (Will Forte) reluctantly tags along, in Alexander Payne's funny, poignant road movie. In black-and-white. A gem. R

Philomena A surprisingly tough and tender tale from director Stephen Frears, adapted from the true story of a 70-something Irish woman (Judi Dench) looking to find the son she was forced to give up for adoption when she was an unwed teen, and of the cynical veteran journalist (Steve Coogan) who accompanies her on her quest. PG-13