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From Amazon.co.uk
Bleak as its South Central Los Angeles setting, Harsh Times is like a suicidal vortex swallowing men who ought to know better but can't stop their self-destruction. Christian Bale stars as Jim Davis, a stressed-out, former Army Ranger who becomes a very bad influence on his weak-willed buddy, Mike Alvarez (Freddy Rodriguez of Six Feet Under). Together the two meander through streets at night, getting drunk and stoned, finding trouble for its own sake and inviting danger as a ritual of machismo bonding. Mike's wife, Sylvia (Eva Longoria), a lawyer whom Mike, working as a telemarketer, put through school, is repelled by Jim and watches in pain as her spouse chooses a downward spiral over renewal and redemption with her. When Jim's application to join the L.A. police is turned down, he leads Mike into pure anarchy. An impractical change of fortune doesn't help any, and first-time director David Ayer, who wrote the screenplay for Harsh Times years before his script for Training Day, goes to some lengths, dramatically and visually, to convey Jim's unhinged condition. The dreariness of it all, and a sense that Bale has constructed--but not exactly lived in--another in his gallery of lost, misfit souls, makes it hard to connect with this film. Still, it is hard to turn away from these desperate and dangerous characters. --Tom Keogh
Product Description
Crime drama starring Christian Bale. Jim Davis (Bale) is an ex-Army Ranger who finds himself slipping back into his old life of petty crime after a job offer from the LAPD evaporates. His best friend (Freddy Rodriguez) is pressured by his girlfriend Sylvia (Eva Longoria) to find a job, but Jim is more interested in hanging out and making cash from small heists, while trying to get a law enforcement job so he can marry his Mexican girlfriend.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I saw this film, not really knowing too much about it. Though I've always been a keen admirer of Bale, I thought this was going to be some kind of shoot em up action film, which would be good entertainment, but little more! I could not have been more wrong! Bale gives an incredible preformance, and he keeps you gripped throughout the entire film. Rodriguez was an unknown quantity to me, and I did not overly know what to expect from him, but he also delivers! The supporting cast do a great job as well! The film builds itself up so well, and you know right from the word go, that this film is heading to an amazing climax! It can be tough to watch, as it builds up a head of steam. But nonetheless, and incredible film!!
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I watched this a while back and find myself still thinking about it. Christian Bale delivers one of the best performances of the year.
The film is a rites of passage/coming of age movie, It tackles themes of corruption, love, loyalty, frindship and responsibility. Bale plays a former US Ranger back from a tour of duty in Afghanistan and with more than just a few screws loose, he's a changed man.
We follow him and his best friend as they try to get jobs, do drugs, get drunk, and teeter on the edge of that precipice between being layabouts and responsible adults. There's plenty of laughs along the way but as the movie draws to a close the mood darkens and there is more than one scene in this that will have you wincing or just staring at the screen wide eyed. Bale's performance is just tremendous he is just a bundle of energy and you can't take your eyes off him because you never know what he will do next, his character is in turns funny, scary, crazy and ultimately tragic. The remainder of the cast, which includes Eva Longoria, are all good but can't help but be overshadowed by Bale.
The movie is an indictment of our culture and how messed up our priorities are, the choices we make, the choices we are given. It was written by David Ayer, who wrote Training Day and he directed it as well. This is in some ways a similar movie. it tackles similar themes from a slightly more askew angle. It' a great movie, it has its slight faults but theres plenty to appreciate. If you like intelligent, adult fim making this is worth checking out.
The film is a rites of passage/coming of age movie, It tackles themes of corruption, love, loyalty, frindship and responsibility. Bale plays a former US Ranger back from a tour of duty in Afghanistan and with more than just a few screws loose, he's a changed man.
We follow him and his best friend as they try to get jobs, do drugs, get drunk, and teeter on the edge of that precipice between being layabouts and responsible adults. There's plenty of laughs along the way but as the movie draws to a close the mood darkens and there is more than one scene in this that will have you wincing or just staring at the screen wide eyed. Bale's performance is just tremendous he is just a bundle of energy and you can't take your eyes off him because you never know what he will do next, his character is in turns funny, scary, crazy and ultimately tragic. The remainder of the cast, which includes Eva Longoria, are all good but can't help but be overshadowed by Bale.
The movie is an indictment of our culture and how messed up our priorities are, the choices we make, the choices we are given. It was written by David Ayer, who wrote Training Day and he directed it as well. This is in some ways a similar movie. it tackles similar themes from a slightly more askew angle. It' a great movie, it has its slight faults but theres plenty to appreciate. If you like intelligent, adult fim making this is worth checking out.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a most unpleasant film, with splendid acting, in which as viewer one is dogged always by the fear that it is all going to go wrong for the characters. The director keeps taking us to the edge and pulling us back. But the patterns of self-destruction, the realities of learning to live a civilian life, and the criminalisation of pretty much everything young men want all contribute to a film lived on the edge. Great stuff, but I think I'll take in a couple of Harry Potters to recover.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
I liked it.
This movie isn't out of this world, but it is quite interesting and compelling. Christian Bale does a fantastic job too.
Published 2 months ago by Ahmed El Bahja
5.0 out of 5 stars
"..AWESOME.."
Outstanding film with one of the best performances ever by Christian Bale, worth watching just to see him play his part in this film. Read more
Published 13 months ago by S. Drury
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Got this DVD very quickly and at a very low price. No scratches, perfectly genuine DVD. Enjoyed this excellent movie straight away.
Published 13 months ago by d
5.0 out of 5 stars
Breathtaking performance by Bale
By now you should know that this is a film about how a soldier honourably discharged from active duty, struggles to adapt to life as a 'civilian', bur the beauty of this film is... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Michael Badu
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gritty realism
Best movie Ive seen for ages. Had me glued to it from start to finish. All the leading actors put in stellar performances, with Christian Bale being exceptionally good in the lead... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Agent Cooper
3.0 out of 5 stars
......" I'm a soldier of the apocalypse, man! "......
Harsh times is a film about two close knit friends in South Central LA who are both hoping for career defining moments so that they can turn a new leaf. Read more
Published on 21 Aug 2010 by Current Account
5.0 out of 5 stars
infernal and indignant indictment on iraq
my favourire hollywood movie from last year is an ifernal indictment to the damage caused to the american psyche by an illicit and immoral war in iraq ,its the best comment to... Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2009 by doctor oz MB,MRCP
4.0 out of 5 stars
HARSH MOVIE THAT LEAVES AN IMPRESSION - VERY VIOLENT IN PARTS, AND...
Uncompromising movie, which could best be described as a mix of Training Day in it's cinematography & locales, and Fight Club in it's central themes. Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2009 by Adam Jackson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Harsh Viewing
This film is crazy.I admit while watching this film it did make me want to have a few beers and smoke a little dope lol i love watching this film with a hangover , the ending bit... Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2008 by David Byrne
3.0 out of 5 stars
Harsh Times
Former soldier Jim David (Bale) returns from Afghanistan hoping for a career with the LAPD. The only problem is that he is psychologically scarred by his brutal battlefield... Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2008 by R. Mullaney
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