Harsh Times

DerDrache · #1 2009-01-05, 09:41

I finally got a chance to watch this tonight. Someone had recommended it to me a while ago, but it sounded like it would be cheesy (in particular, the idea of a Welsh actor playing some LA street thug). I was really, really surprised. Very well-acted all around, and I was so involved in the plot that I didn't even want to leave for a minute to go to the bathroom. I've seen just about all of Bale's movies save for Rescue Dawn, and I think this has by far his best performance. (His accent is a bit odd, definitely, but the performance shines through.)

It's really right up there with Training Day, which is surprising when you consider that Training Day got an Oscar and this didn't get a thing. I'm guessing that's because it lacked the star power and budget...

Anyways, just see it. It's great.

Pill Popper · #2 2009-01-06, 08:28

This flick was also released in very few theaters and did not get a big audience

agreed it was good but no where as good as training day

earthbound01 · #3 2009-01-06, 19:57

After watching this I realized Bale is a master with accents. He did hit the chicano accent dead on.

But overall a very entertaining movie.Lots of action and ass-kicking.

jai614 · #4 2009-01-07, 02:42

'Great' doesn't begin to describe that movie.

twinrage · #5 2009-01-14, 13:55

Definitely a really good film, I've watched it a few times.

ObsdianZ · #6 2009-01-14, 18:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by earthbound01

After watching this I realized Bale is a master with accents.

And yet, in The Prestige his voice sounded really fake, even though he wasn't using an accent (presumably).

*ObZ

monkmaster · #7 2009-01-15, 05:08

I saw it when it came out, and wasn't entirely blown away.
It deserves another watch I suppose.

ganjaninja · #8 2009-01-15, 05:46

i thought it was shit, with basically no redeeming qualities. bale trying to play an out-of-control gen. kill'r was laughable (RAAWWWR IM THE PTS MONSTER!1!). freddy rodriguez should've just killed him in the beginning and saved everyone their 80 minutes.

HARDMAN · #9 2009-01-15, 06:32

It was decent, but had nowhere near the depth of story that Training Day did. Christian Bale didn't really convince me on the whole "Hardened veteran" thing. He came off as an annoying douchbag much of the time.

Valley of Elah was a similar movie but much better, in my opinion.

ganjaninja · #10 2009-01-15, 06:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by HARDMAN

It was decent, but had nowhere near the depth of story that Training Day did. Christian Bale didn't really convince me on the whole "Hardened veteran" thing. He came off as an annoying douchbag much of the time.

Valley of Elah was a similar movie but much better, in my opinion.

training day sucked. let me ask you something about it's depth of story: on the most important day of denzel washingtons' life, why would he involve a wild card rookie cop in his convoluted robbery scheme? Don't say "he was gonna frame him, thats why he made him smoke the sherm!!1" because if he had excluded ethan hawke, the dirty cops would've just robbed willie nelson's cousin and been done with it.