Harsh Times DVD
I am a Christian Bale fan, but passed on this movie because of Eva Longoria. While in the long run this was quite okay I am glad that I saw this movie. Blockbuster exclusivity on this flick so had to borrow it from a friend.
Bale plays Jim, an affected Gulf War veteran who is desperately trying to bring his life together after being honorably discharged. The movie starts with him being in love with a Mexican national living across the border and trying to bring her to the US when he passes his tests to become a police officer with the LAPD.
Bale plays Jim with a conflicted heart. He is at once in love, determined to have a career in law enforcement and hopelessly behind in life, financially and emotionally. His friend Mike, played by Freddy Rodriquez (Poseidon) is a having his own crisis of conscious trying to find a job and failing the standards of his much more capable girlfriend played by Longoria.
Amongst the pot smoking and copious drinking while driving, each is looking for the Brass Ring that will solve all their problems in the delusional idea that if they only got a chance they could pull it all together. This movie proves that even given a chance live is hardly fair. Very much in the vane of Training Day, the film unravels over the course of few days of action and several moments of decision while the main characters travel from friend to friend. The third act is the reality of all the destructive consequences these two have created.
I asked myself while Bale would sink to this movie. He is very good actor with a long history of work. Then of course I see that he Executive Produced the movie. Notwithstanding, his Spanish dialog is very clean and his 'Homey' ghetto talk is right on the money. Not bad for being a British actor. I am sure that this was not so much a labor of love but an examination on how to branch out behind the camera while maintaining his gritty indie spirit between big budget movies like The Prestige and his very lucrative Batman reinvention.
This movie is Christian Bale all the way, if you are a fan you should see it. He hasn't made many bad choices in the last five years of work. A solid middle of the shot group for his acting ability. Its not American Pyscho or The Machinist but its not The New World either.
Bale plays Jim, an affected Gulf War veteran who is desperately trying to bring his life together after being honorably discharged. The movie starts with him being in love with a Mexican national living across the border and trying to bring her to the US when he passes his tests to become a police officer with the LAPD.
Bale plays Jim with a conflicted heart. He is at once in love, determined to have a career in law enforcement and hopelessly behind in life, financially and emotionally. His friend Mike, played by Freddy Rodriquez (Poseidon) is a having his own crisis of conscious trying to find a job and failing the standards of his much more capable girlfriend played by Longoria.
Amongst the pot smoking and copious drinking while driving, each is looking for the Brass Ring that will solve all their problems in the delusional idea that if they only got a chance they could pull it all together. This movie proves that even given a chance live is hardly fair. Very much in the vane of Training Day, the film unravels over the course of few days of action and several moments of decision while the main characters travel from friend to friend. The third act is the reality of all the destructive consequences these two have created.
I asked myself while Bale would sink to this movie. He is very good actor with a long history of work. Then of course I see that he Executive Produced the movie. Notwithstanding, his Spanish dialog is very clean and his 'Homey' ghetto talk is right on the money. Not bad for being a British actor. I am sure that this was not so much a labor of love but an examination on how to branch out behind the camera while maintaining his gritty indie spirit between big budget movies like The Prestige and his very lucrative Batman reinvention.
This movie is Christian Bale all the way, if you are a fan you should see it. He hasn't made many bad choices in the last five years of work. A solid middle of the shot group for his acting ability. Its not American Pyscho or The Machinist but its not The New World either.
posted by Comm's @ 4:48 PM
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