Harsh Times - Christian Bale drama from David Ayer

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 19 Aug 2006, 13:09

This is getting a lot of good press. Harsh Times - a drama starring Christian Bale and the fantastic Freddy Rodriguez from the superb TV drama Six Feet Under. From writer David Ayer (Training Day and Dark Blue making directorial debut. (Both Training Day and Dark Blue weren't anything special, except for the respective lead actors' performances IMO - Denzel Washington & Kurt Russell.)

Trailer. Right click > Save link as.

HARSH TIMES stars Bale as an ex-Army Ranger who finds himself slipping back into his old life of petty crime after a job offer from the LAPD evaporates.

A tough-minded drama about two friends in South Central Los Angeles and the violence the comes between them.

Buddies Mike and Jim raise hell in the days leading up to Jim's assignment with the DEA in Columbia.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Aug 2006, 13:19

Thanks again Eva.

Empire for what it's worth gave it only an average review. Training Day was so average. Agreed Washington was good but Oscar material? What!

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 19 Aug 2006, 13:21

bradavon wrote:Agreed Washington was good but Oscar material? What!

It was a "career" Oscar. They had to make up for passing him over for Malcolm X, Devil in a Blue Dress (not sure about this one, I might be thinking of Don Cheadle) and The Hurricane.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Aug 2006, 13:30

Agreed he was excellent in Malcolm X but I thought The Hurricane was average too, but definitely better than Training Day.

It was also the "Black" year so a lot of political voting going on.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 19 Aug 2006, 13:33

I think Halle Berry got her Oscar for showing off her baps in Swordfish.

That's my theory. 8)

Denzel is technically a good actor, but for some reason I never connect with him.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 19 Aug 2006, 13:34

Yeah, Hurricane and Training Day were very average (that's what I meant by "not anything special").

It was also the "Black" year so a lot of political voting going on.

Ah yeah, Halle Berry got that Oscar for Monster's Ball (which is a joke, considering that she can't act her way out of a cardboard box) that year.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Aug 2006, 13:45

I think Halle Berry got her Oscar for showing off her baps in Swordfish.

That was years before. What a load of media controversy over nothing. She gots her baps out BIG DEAL. The scene was so unerotic it wasn't funny. The later scene where she's in her underwear is far sexier.

Ah yeah, Halle Berry got that Oscar for Monster's Ball (which is a joke, considering that she can't act her way out of a cardboard box).

Generally I agree but overall have no problem with her acting. Her acting in Monster's Ball however was fantastic and she deserved the Oscar.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 19 Aug 2006, 14:12

I never watched the whole of Swordfish, it was so fucking awful.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Aug 2006, 14:21

Agreed. I wouldn't say awful but INCREDIBLY average. The first 15 minutes were good it then went seriously down hill.

It's so weird my musical tastes are virtually the same as Romero's but film it's you 8)

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 19 Aug 2006, 23:07

EvaUnit02 wrote:It was a "career" Oscar. They had to make up for passing him over for Malcolm X, Devil in a Blue Dress (not sure about this one, I might be thinking of Don Cheadle) and The Hurricane.

Don Cheadle was also in Devil In A Blue Dress and you're right, it was a cumulative Oscar. He did put in a good performance in Training Day, but better than Will Smith in Ali? I think not. But because that was Smith's first real 'acting' endeavour, as far as I can recall, he couldn't get it over a much more established actor such as Washington.
Denzel is great in the first two films you mentioned though - "We didn't land on Plymouth Rock. Plymouth Rock, landed on us!"; I haven't seen him in The Hurricane so I couldn't say anything about it (but with it being Denzel, I'm sure it's good.)

I also saw the trailer for this when I went to see Miami Vice and it looks great.
Interview with Bale

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 20 Aug 2006, 02:36

Denzel Washington is an awesome actor. The Oscar for "Training Day" was a joke, though when you think about what other roles he has played before. But whom should they have awarded otherwise? Russel Crowe received the award in the previous year for "Gladiator" and they'd be too proud to give it to the Fresh Prince Will Smith.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 21 Aug 2006, 18:45

Harsh Times 4.5/5

Anyone else impressed by the amount of really aggressive high-fives? Bale's going to suffer from artheritis if he keeps this up.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 27 Aug 2006, 03:51

http://dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=62521
DVDtimes review. Sounds like one I should see.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 27 Aug 2006, 13:27

I hate dvdtimes layout now, so have gave up on that site as its a mess.

I saw it last night great film, never really knew where it was going and had a few shocking moments also which kept you on your toes. It just felt right watching it and hey it had plenty if things to see happen in front of me, even if by the end nothing had really happened at all.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 27 Aug 2006, 22:37

romerojpg wrote:I hate dvdtimes layout now, so have gave up on that site as its a mess.

You can go back to the old layout in your user options.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 26 Jan 2007, 17:33

Dreadful R1 cover:-

Bale looks like he's buggering that dude.

(source)

UK cover sucks even more:-

(source)

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 Jan 2007, 20:34

I reckon the UK cover art looks miles better.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 26 Jan 2007, 21:24

None look good, not even close, the UK one has some realy shit wording on that typeface! what is the film Pirates of the Carraibeeean

I will wait till the UK dvd is under 5 quid then buy it.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 Jan 2007, 21:58

I never said it looked good

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 26 Jan 2007, 23:02

Never said you did

but hell someone does, someone blind!!!!!