Directed by:
David AyerScreenplay:
David AyerCinematography:
Steve MasonComposer:
Graeme RevellCast:
Christian Bale, Freddy Rodríguez, Eva Longoria, Terry Crews, Tania Verafield, Noel Gugliemi, Emilio Rivera, J.K. Simmons, Samantha Esteban, Kenneth Choi (more)Plots(1)
Ex-Army Ranger Jim Davis (Christian Bale) hasn't been able to get his life back on track since he came home from the Gulf War. Plagued by nightmares and unwilling to take a desk job, he burned through all his savings waiting around for an offer from the L.A.P.D. that never panned out. He tells himself that if he only had a job, everything would turn around - he could marry his devoted Mexican girlfriend, Marta, and bring her back to the States to settle down. But in the meantime, he's just killing time with his friend Mike (Freddy Rodriguez), who's also unemployed. Mike's high-powered girlfriend, Sylvia (Eva Longoria), is sick of hearing his excuses, so Jim offers to help Mike find a job; instead they just end up driving the streets of South Central looking for trouble. They drop in on Jim's ex-girlfriend, pick a fight with her boyfriend who's in a gang, and, in a matter of hours, unwittingly sew the seeds of their own destruction. (Pathé Distribution UK)
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Reviews (8)
An excellent drama that got right to me. A fundamental role in this is played by Christian Bale who, scene after scene, constructs the complex and mentally unstable character of former ranger, Jim Davis. He can be a nice guy who you would risk anything for, but at the same time he can be uncompromising swine who would sell his own grandmother, while retaining his credibility. Ayer did a good job directing and, apart from the rather slow beginning, I have no complaints. And also Freddy Rodriguez was a huge surprise, managing to keep step with Bale, which deserves praise. As for the screenplay, its strongest weapon is atmosphere and a sarcastic view on the world. It simply sucks you in. A perfect story from L.A.’s underworld.
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The story itself isn't great, and Ayer's direction isn't exactly bursting with ideas and character, but the film has one huge plus that elevates it from the grey of mediocrity, and that’s Christian Bale, of course. Something evil and mysterious lurks in his eyes, which from the very first moments will unsettle you and help you immerse in the otherwise bland plot. And Ayer manages to dose all that evil in the span of 110 minutes in such a way as to make everyone sit on their asses and watch. If you don't expect anything groundbreaking, harsh or deep in thought, you'll have a great time.
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I haven’t seen such a good move about nothing for a long time. Christian Bale’s Jim Davis is the best played, most unpleasant character of the past few years. He could probably manage to pull off a three-hour gaze into the mirror with style. His interpretation of the mental sale of this unstable, dumb, aggressive brute is an unforgettable experience. I believe there are countless people like that around. I have the misfortune to know one myself. Just a shame that the role played in this movie by my favorite, Freddy Rodriguez, didn’t suit him one little bit. Also the movie could easily have been a little shorter. But thank god for Bale - his incredible skill moved the entire movie along wonderfully...
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Too shallow. Over time, the constantly pissed off and off the rails expression of Christian Bale will start to irritate you just like his problems in the film – he starts and doesn't even really know why. Harsh Times is indeed intense, but it has nothing to offer in terms of plot. The overwhelming majority of things are there for effect and it doesn't get under your skin. That is, assuming you have seen a thing or two and a high concentration of fucks and the raw feeling of a big city's periphery are not something that would impress you.
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Ayer's attempt to be rough, impactful, and vulgar at all costs perhaps works initially. Then Bale’s style, however perfectly acted, in which he tries to emulate the style of Mexican gangsters, becomes significantly irritating. The problem stems from the director/writer, whose mix of street gangster and personal testimony of a war-scarred veteran shatters into an obnoxiously chatty and overwrought routine. Hands off this one, you'll have much more fun playing "GTA: San Andreas." It’s on the same level in terms of ideas and yet you'll be in the thick of it at will, not for an annoying two hours.
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