What does "Out of the Furnace," the new thriller starring Christian Bale as a blue-collar worker trying to save his troubled war veteran brother (Casey Affleck), have to do with "Ratatouille," the 2007 animated movie about a rat who moonlights as a gourmet chef? More than you might think.
At a recent installment of the Envelope Screening Series, Affleck discussed how acting in "Out of the Furnace" helped him get back to his roots and reminded him of a pivotal scene in the 2007 Pixar film.
After declaring "Ratatouille" one of his favorite films of all time, Affleck spent a few minutes recounting (with some minor spoilers) a climactic scene in which the feared food critic Anton Ego is transported back to his childhood by a bite of ratatouille, the peasant dish his mother used to cook for him.
WATCH: 'Out of the Furnace' cast, crew discuss the film
"It reminded him of why he loved food," Affleck explained, seemingly somewhat bemused by his own analogy. Affleck's role opposite Bale in "Out of the Furnace," he said, similarly helped him reconnect with his love of acting.