Harsh Times - Christian Bale's Ups and Downs
Written: Oct 08 '09
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Product Rating:
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Pros: strong acting, suspenseful, solid directing
Cons: ending is abrupt, lacks direction sometimes
The Bottom Line: Harsh Times highlights the extent of Bale's acting- but the script may be tough to swallow for some
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| t13monkeys's Full Review: Harsh Times |
Before The Dark Knight catapulted Christian Bale into the spotlight, he was probably best known for his method acting in intense dramas like American Psycho and action flicks like Equilibrium. Harsh Times highlights Bale’s strengths and weaknesses as he plays a former soldier dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. As David Ayer’s first directed film, he’s got a strong future ahead and makes good use of his actors. Those that enjoy a character-driven story that could have fit into Requiem for a Dream may like this one.
Jim Davis (Christian Bale) is a former US Ranger. He’s got a girlfriend in Mexico he’s hoping to marry but he needs to secure a job in order to get her a Visa. His best friend Mike Alonzo (Freddy Rodriguez) is also on the job search, as his gorgeous wife, Sylvia (Eva Longoria) pressures him because she wants him to be an equal partner in the relationship. The thing is, the two are both enablers for each other’s destructive habits, and instead of searching for jobs, they spend their days smoking and drinking as Jim gets rejected from his application to become part of the LAPD. The rejection sets off a chain of events that begin a deadly self-destructive process within Jim.
Harsh Times is a tough movie to describe because it is purely character driven, and the storyline for some may seem random and disjointed. The heart of the story though is focused in on the building train wreck that is Jim, a violence-loving veteran who can’t quite seem to fit himself back into the normal day to day of things. It raises a tough question of whether war makes the soldier or if the soldier makes war- as viewers have to decide whether Jim’s character was already predisposed to violence or whether his actions are the byproduct from experiences as a soldier.
Ayer’s was right in picking Bale, he needed a method actor who could get inside the head of Jim, and Bale executes it finely. But that’s where Bale’s flaws also show, because Jim is not exactly a role that challenges or stretches Bale since he’s played similar cold-detached characters in the past. Still there’s something impressive about watching Bale at work in his character’s mind as he expresses the different personalities within Jim- who can switch from being cool and collected as he is on battlefield, to completely out of control when he is on the streets partying.
Freddy Rodriguez’ acting usually goes underappreciated next to Bale’s star presence. He plays a very important role as Jim’s friend, Mike, and has to constantly decide between letting Jim enable his alcoholism or to find a job. The self-destructive nature of drugs and alcohol is a constant theme throughout as the two go on high-stakes adventures throughout LA.
Harsh Times is a raw look into the male psych that lives on the edge and the consequences that it can bring. Whether this film is a hit or miss I think really depends on if you can relate to being Jim or Mike at some point in your life and have had to make some kind of tough decision regarding having a future or tossing it away to violence, drugs or alcohol. The somber soundtrack coupled with the fast pacing makes this at least an entertaining film from start to finish. Overlooked and underappreciated, Harsh Times showcases well Bale’s fierce intensity on screen. Highly recommended.
Recommended:
Yes
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t13monkeys
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