The fetishising of rugged masculinity...

I think that the story would have been more interesting if they cast against type for Frank. Instead of being rugged, brooding and masculine, they could have cast someone deceptively charming and good looking in a feminine sort of way, so that Adele's lack of reluctance in bringing a complete stranger, an escaped convict no less, back to her home seemed less unlikely. If Frank was more of an Alain Delon-type, almost like a pretty boy, then her believing in him may have seemed all the more authentic. Not only that, but once we learned of Frank's past, we'd be all the more puzzled because it just wouldn't seem likely.

But because rugged masculinity is such a fetish in the media, and particularly in Hollywood, we get Josh Brolin, who is handsome particularly to women who enjoy the rugged look, but who I had a lot of trouble seeing him convince a single mother to bring him back home to "hide out" from the police. I just don't think Adele would look at someone with an obviously criminal past, written all over him, so freely allowing to upheave her or her son's life. But then again, maybe Adele's fragile emotions and vulnerability clouded her judgement.

Overall, I thought this was a good film. The critical reception left me dumbfounded, though. It was much more well-made than the 39% on Rotten Tomatoes would have you believe.