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Plot:
Jim Davis is an ex-Army Ranger recently discharged from the military, yet still haunted by nightmares of his former occupation. While seeking a position with the LAPD that will allow him to marry his ...( read more 
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Recent Reviews
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MCT:August 29, 2008One of the best crime movies I've ever seen. I can't believe the ending though. Jim was just going crazy. He was psycho. Christian Bale is a great actor. Great movie. Seen it two times.
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MCT:August 28, 2008
Bale is very good in this film which makes a change from the roles he has taken up in recent years. The script for the most part was quite dull and it was an effort to watch to the end.
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MCT:August 21, 2008Christian Bale turns out his most inconsistent (or least solid if you prefer) performance as an increasingly psychotic army vet. I admire his courage to take a role he clearly wasn't meant for. His performance was puzzling, sometimes amusing and all over the road without even thinking about it. Freddy Rodriguez turns out a pretty solid performance and Eva Longoria plays the nag I imagine her to be in real life. The story r e e k s of Training Day (duh...!), starts off okay enough to leave you curious then blows up (in a bad way) by the end. Harsh Times had some great cinematography at points and a few entertaining scenes but this is by no means a movie that needed to be made or a story that had to be told.
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MCT:August 19, 2008
Well This Movie Was Ok! Even Though Christian Bale Is A Good Actor I Don't Think He Was Best Suited For This Movie! The Ending Was Kind Of Bad!
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MCT:August 13, 2008Harsh times is a underrated film that deserves better. Screenwriter David Ayer adds director to his resume and does a great job for his debut. David Ayer captures the grit and realism of the underworld of the LAPD. Christian Bale plays an ex-army ranger just discharged and all he wants is to be part of the LAPD. Until then, he is hangin with his good friend, Mike played by Freddy Rodriguez. Unfortuantely, he is the weak point of the film with a character as complex as Mike was. Freddy doesn't stretch the character out enough and nearly delivered a one note performance. Bale brings his brooding, unpredictable, intense style of acting and his performance brings the story to life. Even though this story of drugs and deceit has been done time after time. Bale's strong performance and Ayer's gritty direction keeps the movie rolling along in a dramatic realistic fashion. You think you had harsh times...take a look at Bale's Harsh times....very good film.
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MCT:August 11, 2008
I didn't even hear of this movie but with the wonders of a remote control in my hand I came across it.
Interesting and kept my attention. -
MCT:August 9, 2008
this movie kind of went unnoticed,Bale did this movie before batman begins.Bale plays Jim Davis a man who hast just got out of the army after 6 years.He wants to marry his girlfriend Marta and bring her over from mexico.his plan is to join the lapd.his plans get dashed when he fails the psyche profile and his best friend mike(rodriguez) gets a glimpse of the time bomb jim is becoming.as they cruise the mean streets of east L A you know this movie is slowly heading for disaster and someone is gonna die.
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MCT:August 2, 2008
good shit! realistic stoner/black comedy flick, Bale is the finest in normal psycho roles but never in the caped crusader costume-you sick fuck!!!
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MCT:August 2, 2008
a little bit unnecesery film.but at least acting and scenes are good.and i love the final car part.in some movies a man always shot the car,but car never damages.not in this one.
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MCT:July 24, 2008
This movie was very hard to watch... first because they're cursing from beginning till end and second because it's really disturbing... but the main actors performance is terrific!
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MCT:June 28, 2008I really like this movie. I understand that it is not perfect and has its flaws but Christian Bale is simply the best and not many can deny that right at this moment. His character is played sublime by him and is so believable. The emotions on his face, that guy puts a 110% into his work whatever the roll is.
A lot have discussed the accent and the way Bale plays the character in the movie but to me that's just nit picking and silly. Freddy Rodriguez was alright in this but to me the movie was all about Bale's gifted talent at acting and he makes the movie so good and watchable.
There were parts were i really felt emotionally involved and feeling for his character or with him and that to me is powerful. To conclude, this is definitely on the similar line of Training Day but it's a total different story and people should not compare it or nit pick over the smallest issues. Great flick. Powerful ending as well. -
MCT:June 27, 2008
Christian Bale is great as always in this movie.Its a realistic film with a good storyline.But I felt there sould have been more action violence.
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MCT:June 23, 2008
To be completely honest...the only thing that really drew me towards this movie is the premise that Christian Bale would be starring in it. And, when it started...it was unlike any character I've ever seen him play.
The story is about Jim Davis {Bale] who used to be an Army Ranger and was recently discharged. He's looking for work, gets turned down by the one occupation that he requires in order to marry his Mexican girlfriend and bring her into America.
However, he still has these recurring nightmares from his job as a Ranger...and these seem to keep him up at night at times. And, the only person who can understand him is his best friend Mike [Freddy Rodriguez].
To kill the time before he finds out about the LAPD position, they chill by getting drunk, smoking weed, seeing their buddies and just hanging out. Yet, Mike is finally thinking he may actually need to get a job as his girlfriend, Sylvia [Eva Longoria] keeps pushing him to. She finally gives him an ultimatum...and he does something really stupid just in order to hang out with his best friend.
Finally, Jim finds out that the LAPD reject his application...and becomes furious and from that is just a barrel into some reactions that most people usually wouldn't have. As Mike ignores his girlfriend's pleas, the both end up cruising along the streets of South Central Los Angeles...getting involved in petty crime, theft, drugs and eventually violence...as they did when they were young.
At first, I was surprised when I heard Spanish in the beginning of this movie...having no idea what it was about...and then seeing Jim go back to America and talk like some gangsta...and then again, when addressing authorties...putting on this completely different demeanour.
It seemed a little slow at first, just two guys having fun...ignoring their responsibilities...and being totally reckless until there's a key point in the film that has Jim acting out in ways he can't even control and it comes down to Mike to pacify things a little bit...however your best friend can't always help you out.
It's certainly different, the immense development of Jim's character is amazing to see and Rodriguez does a pretty fine job playing Mike. It's interesting to see the two of them get along and interact...see what they're going to do next. -
MCT:June 23, 2008
After watching it for the second time i enjoyed it more. Christian Bale gives yet another incredible performances. The films only minor downfall is its pacing and that it is quite similar to Training Day.
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MCT:June 5, 2008
A touching and gripping story set in L.A. about hardship and the main character's deterioration into insanity. Bale and Rodriguez were excellent.
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MCT:June 2, 2008
Some think its slow and boring. I loved it. I thought the drama was amazing. You see Bale's character diminish right before your eyes.
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MCT:May 23, 2008Note: Even Christian Bale can't save it from what it really is: a pseudo-edgy mess that is neither a psychological thiller nor a urban drama.
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MCT:April 30, 2008
i was really expecting so much more with this film...the posters,title and whole look gives u a certain feeling about how its gonna go....but its very dissapointing and dull.there are some nice scenes but it needs so much more.
bale is good as the ex army boy wanting to join the cops and shows the torment of waiting for that position well.....kinda depressing actually hehe
bale is better than the movie and the movie is average....but it could of been really cool. -
MCT:April 27, 2008
I liked Training Day
I liked Harsh Times
and Damn! Im going to see the Street Kings too...David Ayer is doing great job at getho movies... -
MCT:April 21, 2008
Like everyone else who saw this I was expexting a horrible version of Training Day, and in a matter of speaking... It kind of is. They both do the whole "A day in the life of a gangster pretending to live the straight and narrow." The only thing that I truly do like more about Harsh Times then Training Day, is Christian Bale, who (once again) proves why he is one of the best actors out of there. I mean most of the roles I've seen him he does an amazing job how ever this is a huge show of his acting ability. He does an amazing job. The whole time I was in complete and utter awe that it was actually him. I almost want to go back and watch it again just to make sure, but I have better things to do. Like watch Fight Cclub again or something... Anyway Freddy Rodriguez also does a good job. Too bad it goes unnoticed when put next to Christian Bale. The story isn't the greatest. Bale and Rodriguez fall back into old habits while trying to change their lives for the better. Predictable pretty much the whole way through. In all honesty you'd do better just to watch Training Day and pretend that Denzel Washington was Christian Bale. Not that I ever do that or anything.... But yeah if your a fan of Bale like me or you want to see what Training Day would have been like if it hadn't been very good check it!!
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MCT:April 16, 2008
Amazing movie, very well written, acted, and directed. Christian Bale playsan ex-Army Ranger recently discharged from the military. He's in love with a woman who lives in Mexico, and has to get a job at the LAPD in order for her to be able to come to America. Bale's best friend is played by Freddy Rodriguez, and Bale brings out Rodriguez' bad side. They spend a few days drinking, smoking, stealing, and doing crimes...all which lead to a truly shocking and tragic climax. Eva Longoria Parker plays Rodriguez' long time girlfriend, who only wants him to get a good job and to clean up his life. Along the way the duo meet up with a friend, Chaka Forman. J.K. Simmons and Michael Monks play feds that Bale trys to get a job with, and David Ayer's regulars Smantha Esteban, Terry Crews, and Noel Gugliemi all have key parts. Esteban as Bale's past lover, Crews as one of the duo's long time friends, and Noel Gugliemi, who has one of the most important roles, as the latino gangster that they humiliated early on in the film. The gritty feel of the film, the lighting,editing, and music all add to the ghetto feel the film has. It is a very unique film, where Christian Bale is not only the main protagonist, but also the lead antagonist in a sense.
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MCT:April 13, 2008
''You're crazy and you're dangerous and my biggest nightmare is you with a fucking badge!''
A tough-minded drama about two friends in South Central Los Angeles and the violence that comes between them.
Christian Bale: Jim Luther Davis
Freddy Rodríguez: Mike Alonzo
Eva Longoria Parker: Sylvia
Driving round, smoking, drinking. Quality man!
Bale is outstanding, war-affected ex-soldier character he portrays is scarred yet oddly funny in a perverse sense. Loved it man, makes you think.
Eva Longoria shines, a rising actress and model and Freddy Rodriguez too does a splendid job, they both support fireball Bale well.
Soundtrack on this is so good, i want to go and own it. This is like Training Day or 8 mile. It's got a level of seriousness that gleams in all it's gritty realism.
A must own and a must see!''I'm a soldier of the apocalypse, man!'' -
MCT:March 29, 2008
good acting. too much "dog", "f..... up" and not really necessary, but thats the film. bales character is torn between wants, dreams and the past and i guess it gets him in the end.. well worth seeing
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Comments
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jklmt95posted 360 days ago -
great movie, portrayed the concept of reality with on-going suspense and the characters did the movie proud!
posted 444 days ago -
y'know...the moment an actor starts getting even a smidgen of respectability, despite the fact that he may have deserved it for years...he becomes "overrated".so who's underrated in your opinion? tara reid?
posted 456 days ago -
Terrible acting on all accounts. Christian Bale is the single most overrated actor in Hollywood today.
posted 469 days ago -
Always supurb acting from Christian Bale!!I loved the road rage scene especially. Once again he gets given an ultimatley COOL character to play. Thumbs up!!
posted 480 days ago -
