Harsh Times
2006
Haunted by nightmares from his murderous military past, the honourably discharged Jim (Christian Bale) spends his time between his impoverished fiancee in rural Mexico and cruising the streets of east L.A., knocking back beers and smoking joints with his buddy Mike (Freddy Rodriguez). They also pawn a gun, run into some trouble .. Read more
| Starring | Christian Bale, Freddy Rodríguez, Eva Longoria, Adriana Millan |
|---|---|
| Director | David Ayer |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Drama |
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Harsh Times
Haunted by nightmares from his murderous military past, the honourably discharged Jim (Christian Bale) spends his time between his impoverished fiancee in rural Mexico and cruising the streets of east L.A., knocking back beers and smoking joints with his buddy Mike (Freddy Rodriguez). They also pawn a gun, run into some trouble with a jealous gangster, and fool Mike’s girlfriend (Eva Longoria) into thinking he’s actually dropping off resumes instead of getting drunk and high with his buddy. Meanwhile, Homeland Security wants to recruit Jim for some special ops in Central America, but first he has to pass a urine test. This is the directorial debut of David Ayer, who wrote TRAINING DAY, which this film resembles with its smog-saturated cinematography and loving attention to the minutiae of male bonding and ‘homey codes’ in and around L.A.'s inner-city drug culture. One never knows where the story is going, or what's around the next corner in this off-centre yarn, and Ayer captures that uneasy feeling of cruising through a bad part of town in a car with someone who you slowly realise cannot be trusted. Christian Bale delivers, as usual, a towering performance, growing progressively more disturbed as the film goes on; he weeps, roars, struts, shouts, and flips out, maintaining audience sympathy all the while.
| Starring | Christian Bale, Freddy Rodríguez, Eva Longoria, Adriana Millan, Tammy Trull |
|---|---|
| Director | David Ayer |
| Studio | PATHE DISTRIBUTION |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 40 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Released | DVD: 30 Apr 2007 Production year: 2006 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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The directorial debut of Training Day screenwriter David Ayer, this rage-fuelled powderkeg features yet another... read more on Time Out
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A compelling drama for those who like their films twisted, macho and dark
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Most helpful member's review
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44 out of 47 people found this review helpful
Wish I could give it four and a half!
Harsh Times is an excellent film. I went to see it mainly on the promise of Christian Bale and Freddy Rodriguez as plot information has been rather vague. During the first half an hour I was slightly unsure as, although very well acted, I did not think it was going to be possible to make me care about either of the characters. I was wrong! By the end I cared about both of them, despite their flaws which are displayed throughout the film. I think this shows the talent of both the actors and the director. The only thing that grated on me was the language used, especially by Bale, as it is very 'gangsta'! I realise that this was part of how the film worked, but it still got on my nerves and stopped it quite reaching 5 stars! Well worth watching, excellent all round.
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Most recent members' review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Christian Bale at his best
Let me start by saying that Christian Bale is one of the most under appreciated actors of his generation and this is his best performance so far.
His portrayal of a modern Amercian war veteran who's affected by what he has gone through and has lost connection with real life is just brilliant.
If you liked his piece of method acting in American Psycho or The Machinist you will love him in this great movie.
The superficial story is one of two friends trying to get / stay on the right path by looking for a normal job, a process that gets hindered by Bale's tendency to get drunk and high and get further disconnected from reality.
The deeper and more interesting story is the one of an American society that sends young men to fight abroad with the obvious psychotrauma's as a consequence and the lack of support system when they get back - I am not saying that is a very political movie but inherently you get to take look in the underbelly of American society and the way some government organisations deal with these 'fallen heroes' - the scene where he gets interviewed for another 'mission' is one of the best ones I have ever seen.
You don't see this movie but you experience it - it's a real life drama that unfolds like a good thriller - you never really know what's going the happen next - a masterpiece by both Bale and the director. -
News and features
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Keanu to be Night Watchman
- 21 Feb 2007
Keanu Reeves - also known as Neo from the widely successful Matrix trilogy - is set to star in a new movie from crime writer James Ellroy, who penned last year's noir thriller The Black Dahlia. According to Variety, The Night Watchman will star Reeves as a disgraced cop who sets out to change his ways after discovering his department is awash with corruption. And David Ayer has signed on to direct, following his role as writer-director on last year's Harsh Times, which starred Christian Bale as Read more
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Haunted by nightmares from his murderous military past, the honourably discharged Jim (Christian Bale) spends his time between his impoverished fiancee in rural Mexico and cruising the streets of ... -