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Harsh Times [2006]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

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

Editorial
Synopsis

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.

It's compelling, it's brutal, shame about the ending!
Review date: 2008-07-19 Rating: 8 out of 10

I originally borrowed this off a friend whose initial comment on this film was "Keep it! It's garbage". However, I gave it a chance and overall I was impressed. Christian Bale gave a strong, although not Oscar worthy, performance (as others have considered) as ex-Ranger Jim Luther Davis, who is trying to get back into the American way of life by getting a job after being honourably discharged.

However, instead of looking for a job with his best friend, Miguel 'Mike' Alonzo (Freddy Rodriguez), both decide to get wasted and have a joint. The first half an hour appears like nothings happening, however it all comes back on them, leading to a good movie. I don't want to say too much now!

What's good? There's violence, drugs, good action, a good story and David Ayer develops Davis into a very interesting character, as we try to sympathise with him trying to get back to normal, through some genuinely compelling scenes. Overall, good performances all around from Eva Longoria as the desperate housewife (ironic, eh?) to Rodriquez but kudos to Bale who owned this movie.

What's bad? POSSIBLE SPOILER! Davis' tendencies throughout the film bear the resemblance of an urban Rambo which leads to only one suitable but also predictable conclusion. This film has been compared to that of Training Day. I could see that this barred a similar plot structure, in which everything that the audience were being introduced to, had a purpose. However, Harsh Times is different in terms of character development but falls short of its brilliance.

However, give it a chance like I did but read the title if you want the overall comment.

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Reviews


Harsh Times
Review date: 2008-06-10 Rating: 6 out of 10

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 actions and the drink and drugs only further blur his perception of reality. Jim is dangerous because he can't distinguish between when killing is acceptable and when it isn't. As he waits for his job application to be processed Jim hangs out with buddy Mike (Rodriguez) whose lack of will power continues to disappoint his beautiful girlfriend Sylvia (Longoria) who realises Jim is a dangerous person to know. Together Jim and Mike cruise the streets of Los Angeles, drinking, getting high and causing trouble.

After the wonderful Training Day I was looking forward to Harsh Times, the directorial debut of TD writer David Ayer. The film is similar in that two men drive around the mean streets of LA all day and get into all kinds of scrapes involving drink, drugs and guns. Denzel Washington's powerful performance of the unhinged cop is replaced by Christian Bale's powerful performance of an unhinged ex-soldier whilst Freddy Rodriguez plays Ethan Hawke's more down to Earth low-key character. Where Training Day was blisteringly intense, Harsh Times tends to keep going off the boil with extended periods of not very much going on. Visits to Mexico and lengthy job interview sequences could have been shortened somewhat to keep fluidity.

That said, Bale turns in an excellent performance as the rage-filled trained killer and when his application to the LAPD is rejected you just know he's going to lose it. And lose it he does, gradually unwinding until the films dramatic finale. Harsh Times is a good, relevant drama especially in todays climate of overseas war and disillusioned youngsters. Sometimes the lingo can become a little irritating (every so often Bale begins talking like a latino gang banger) and the soundtrack isn't as effective as Training Day's but overall, this is a decent film supported by strong performances.

Like this? Try: Training Day

An awesome achievement
Review date: 2008-04-09 Rating: 10 out of 10

Love it or hate it, Harsh Times in my opinion is an awesome achievement. Bale is a fantastic actor and its great to see his adaptability to this role. The film delivers a dark, gritty and sometimes comic experience which at times is an assault on the senses. The storyline focuses on two friends who find themselves, as the title suggests, in 'Harsh Times'. Bale is a dysfunctional ex-marine trying to get into LAPD whilst Rodriguez is a bum looking for a job to stabilise his rocky relationship with Eva Longoria. Along the way the film takes many twists and turns which results in a rather sad ending.

Overrated
Review date: 2008-02-08 Rating: 4 out of 10

I bought this on the basis of it being another 'Training Day'.
Unfortunately it's not!
Depressing as the content is, you strangely find yourself not caring what happens to the characters. There's hardly any action, and the dialogue would only appeal to teenagers. If you want to see how this film could have been - see training day.

Of human weakness
Review date: 2007-08-22 Rating: 8 out of 10

Apparently the film is based on real persons... It is a dark tale of illness, moral ineptitude, and human weakness. And also of making the wrong choices at every turn when other opportunities beckon.

There is some fine acting, but the dialogue comes across as just cumbersome, at times with too many 'dudes' and 'homeys' and a plethora of superfluous ritual handshakes.

But if you have ever worked with US soldiers you will find some similarities in the depiction, down to the constant alcohol guzzling and being spaced out on weed.

The senseless shootings, just because I have a gun and can, do reflect modern day areas ofthe the US, at leats that's what my cop friends there tell me.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Christian Bale
Freddy Rodriguez
Terry Crews
Emilio Rivera
Eva Longoria

Creators:
Christian Bale (Primary Contributor)
Freddy Rodriguez (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Pathe Distribution Ltd
Manufacturer: Pathe Distribution Ltd
EAN: 5060002835005
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL,
Release date: 2007-04-30
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 110 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2006
Language: English (Original Language)

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