Harsh Times Movie
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Storyline
TAGLINES PLOT SUMMARY
Jim Davis is an ex-Army Ranger who finds himself slipping back into his old life of petty crime after a job offer from the LAPD evaporates. His best friend is pressured by his girlfriend Sylvia to find a job, but Jim is more interested in hanging out and making cash from small heists, while trying to get a law enforcement job so he can marry his Mexican girlfriend.
| Christian Bale | Jim Luther Davis |
| Armando Cantina | Little Old Man |
| Freddy Rodríguez | Mike Alonzo |
| Eva Longoria | Sylvia |
| Kenneth Choi | Fujimoto |
| Tammy Trull | Marta |
| Terry Crews | Darrell |
| Robert Dahey | Korean Clerk |
| Samantha Esteban | Letty |
| Chaka Forman | Toussant |
| César García Gómez | Listo |
| Noel Gugliemi | Flaco |
| Sonia Iris Lozada | Gracie |
| Adriana Millan | Rita |
| Michael Monks | Agent Hollenbeck |
| David Ayer |
7.10 out of 10 (6568 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Possibly Christian Bale's most genuinely disturbed character ever…
posted on 29 Jul 2009It's gotta be great to have a past like Christian Bale's, man. He has the perfect past for an actor, and he has the talent to put it together into something useful. He was born in England but was raised in England, Portugal, and California. I don't know how long or at what points in his life he lived in any of those places, but it helps to explain why he can so easily and effectively pull off such wildly different roles as the wealthy British kid in Empire of the Sun, the nutcase in American Psycho, the nutcase in The Machinist (did you see that thing? See it!), Batman, for crying out loud, and of course the nutcase in Harsh Times. I had never heard of Harsh Times when I stumbled across it in a pirated DVD store a couple weeks ago, but for 6 yuan (about 85 cents) I could hardly go wrong, right? Bale plays the part of the perfectly named Jim Luther Davis, a south-central Los Angeles native with dreams of a high-ranking career with the LAPD and who couldn't possibly have a more military sounding name. He has a fiancé in Mexico that we understand that he truly loves and hopes to land a good job so he can bring her to the states. His best friend Mike is living comfortably off his girlfriend, who he supported as she went to college but who now has a successful legal career and is pressuring him to get off hit butt and get a job himself.Jim and Mike on their own seem to have real goals, they seem to really want to get their acts together and achieve their ultimate goals, but they have very different priorities on the path to their respective versions of success. Mike truly wants to find a god job. He really loves his girlfriend and he really wants to make her happy even though she's a nagging wench (sorry, but she is), while Jim on the other hand feels that they're both about to get the jobs and paychecks that they deserve, so they better make the best use of their dwindling free time in the best way that they can, which generally involves weed, beer, and driving. Nice!The movie does an amazing job of creating two characters native to the more dangerous sections of Los Angeles. I lived in LA for some years, and while I never lived in south central (and Venice Beach hardly qualifies as one of the hard parts of LA), I have spent time in east LA (and I lived in Oakland for a while as a kid), so I understand some of the harsh realities of urban life. Not that I've ever gotten involved in selling drugs or stolen guns or, you know, impulsive multiple murders, but there is a level of realism achieved with this movie that gives it an effect that a lesser movie could never have reached.It was written and directed by David Ayer, the same guy who wrote the screenplays for both U-571 and Training Day, so it comes from the pen of someone who knows how to generate tension and how to create complex characters. Christian Bale's Jim is a character whose complexities would have been cartoonish in a lesser movie, but with Bale's incredible performance and Ayer's capable work behind the camera, the movie comes off as a surprisingly good character drama.It will definitely be too violent and, ah, harsh for some tastes, and there is a scene about three quarters of the way through the film that is pretty difficult to sit through, but you have to remember that nothing is compromised for wide appeal or pacification. Harsh Times strikes me as the kind of gritty action drama where a few people got together and made the movie they wanted to make without any consideration for what anyone would think of it. And if more people did that these days, just imagine how much better our movies would be…
Amazing Movie
posted on 27 Jul 2009I only have one thing to say about this movie, if you like action, drama, comedy, gang, violence, romance, etc, you'll love this movie, it is gritty and exiting. I loved it and will see it again while it's in the movies, and most def buying it when it comes out. Go see it, Get this movie in the top 10 at the box office. Amazing Movie. No spoilers but Christian Bale is one of the best actors out there and proves it over and over again in all his movies. Fredie Rodriguez is a great supporting actor and the two of them together push the envelope creating great violence, great scenes, and the things that happen are for a reason, and they show it. Every second in this movie I was eyes on and I loved it.
Terribly conceived characters voids almost all integrity
posted on 21 Jul 2009A rather embarrassing take on the gritty urban drama, Harsh Times comes across like a naive lovechild of Training Day and Friday. Yes, it plays as bad as that sounds. While, the Training Day comparisons seem appropriate (Writer/Director David Ayer wrote that script after all), the misguided plot dealing with two lazy and crazy bums driving around Los Angeles in search of career opportunities and various other troubles seems phoned-in at best. Articulating this atrocious script is Ayer's distinct lack of perspective when it comes to portraying the underbelly of largely Spanish ghettos that populate the film. As raw and realistic as the script seems to think it is, this terrible stab at representing young men in L.A. substitutes any and all integrity it's principal characters may harbor with endless parodies of the stereotypical trappings one sheltered and elder white male may dream up when trying to conjure the reality of the hood from his New Hampshire, four story townhouse.Which is not to say that David Ayer is that guy, we have seen a certain level of authenticity in his earlier scripts that clearly show an understanding of the reality in the street. The problem here is that the grittiness (being a huge aspect and selling point on the film) is absolutely offset in unintentionally comedic ways by the misguided performances and a general disdain for realism. Ayer must have thought he would be tweaking his already accessible, but knowing, street credibility into a project that would appeal to an entire mainstream market of thugs, having failed to realize that the results would only suggest thugs under 15 stay engrossed.Cristian Bale, despite being one of America's quintessential modern character actors, really put a stain on his resume with this one. Despite being the only reason to keep watching this goofy flick with an intense role to fill here, it is clear that neither Bale, nor Ayer nor anyone else was going to shake these people out of their creative slumber to make them realize they were portraying completely ridiculous, ignorant, and condescending versions of the character's they would have wanted to play in order to give the story a bit more believability. Everyone sadly seems way too occupied with trying to be "edgy" and "hip" in their approach here that no one seemed to realize the entire process was coming from a completely misinformed place.Having said all of that, I do believe Ayer holds promise as a mildly entertaining filmmaker. For the most part the low-key plot, especially in the first half, plays out in the same relative manner that gave movies like Friday it's inclusive feel, largely carrying around viewers during these degenerates' daily travels. It is all executed with a mild flair for holding ones visual attention, framing many of the unspectacular scenes spectacularly with some beautiful urban cinematography. All this will do wonders to aid a chief demographic of teenage wiggers even more, though help redeem horrendous characterizations even less.
A Brilliant Film
posted on 21 Jul 2009I saw this on the showtime network tonight, and all I have to say is this is a brilliant film, it seriously has the best, and most realistic acting I have ever seen, Christian Bale shows just what Drugs and Alcohol can do to you, and executes it brilliantly, Freddy Rodriguez's performance is, I would have to say, some of the best acting I have EVER seen. I could honestly feel the acting, physically feel. Especially the end, the end was incredibly well done.I cannot get over how good the acting was, its a shame we don't have many as good as these.11 out of 10 for and INCREDIBLY moving film, in which Christian Bale and Freddy Rodriguez's acting is more then suburb, its amazing.Definitely a movie to make you think twice about drugs and alcohol.Definitely recommended.
Truly what it means to be edge-of-your-seat...
posted on 15 Jul 2009This is not a comfortable film to watch. From the opening sequence until the final scene, I was willing these brilliantly compelling characters to succeed in their less-than-legal ventures whilst at the same time feeling that karma really should be paying a bit more attention to these two. Despite the brutality of their (mainly Jim's) actions and their obvious flaws, socially, emotionally and definitely mentally, they seem to avoid any form of retribution - and this is the source of the discomfort. You almost know what is going to happen, so used to the "Moral Message" movie is the modern day audience. But here's the clever thing - it makes you wait.I don't want to say too much more, other than this is a visceral, powerful movie, with standout performances, an amazing score and a story powerful enough to stay with you long after the movie is over.
Slouching Into the Wasteland via Booze and Grass
posted on 09 Jul 2009Jim and Mike are a pair of Bevis and Butthead style born-losers on a one way buddy trip to nowhere. Jim is fresh home from military service in Afghanistan and (in the terms lefty-Hollywood understands) automatically defines Jim as a wacko. Mike is more the Butthead type, content to bum his daily drug-n-booze money from his employed girl friend (Eva Longoria) who believes his lies because (get this) he leaves home in a white shirt and necktie.Jim will do ANYTHING to get a job with the LAPD --- including some pretty graphic methods of faking the pee test --- primarily so he can slam people around, accept bribes, skim some drugs. But the important primary objective is to get wasted together, preferably before lunch.Christian Bale does, indeed, give a great performance; if watching a sleazy rat degenerate into a worse sleazy rat is your idea of a movie. Contrast this with the recent poll that says virtually every kind of American (Republican, Democrat, religious, atheist, male, female, adults, children, midgets, you-name-it) is downright unhappy with the continual lowering of moral values by the entertainment industry.HARSH TIMES is trash. Actually it's financially unsuccessful trash. But the powers of Hollywood will no doubt generate more of the same. It's who they are. It's what they're about. It defines their valueless lives.
great acting, very human story
posted on 09 Jul 2009I'm glad i haven't seen training day or i'd feel compelled to compare. This film feels real, and the director really makes you feel like you are actually IN the film, in the situation with the characters. You feel part of their lives and start feeling FOR them. Freddy Rodriguez plays a kinda good guy with a weak will and gets roped into anything Jim(Bale) gets him into. His relationship with Eva longoria is something people can identify with. Christian Bale is mind blowing from the moment the film begins (pun intended) he is very believable as Jim and is one crazy SOB in this film, he pulls off the dialogue, attitude and body language really well, You just couldn't tell he was a Brit, let alone welsh. his acting prowess is impeccable. Miles away from the Bruce Wayne he played recently.All in all, its a good film, i won't give away the story, though its nothing extraordinary but it gives us the feel of how life is in crime ridden cities where people fight for survival every single day.
An interesting alternative...
posted on 05 Jul 2009I'm pretty sure there aren't any spoilers, but I checked yes just in case! :) I just got home from watching this film without knowing anything about it. My friend and I started out to go see SAW III, but saw Christian Bale on a poster (looking quite attractive), and decided to watch the film the poster was advertising...HARSH TIMES.I was thoroughly confused to begin with. But as the tale went on, my interest increased...I was hooked. I was enthralled with this film. It's just like hanging out with crazy friends, in neighborhoods with family that I know. There's always that one psycho guy. The way this film was written, shot, and edited draws you in and you soon feel as if you're with these people...Absolutely incredible.Such a shocking, moving, scary film has not been seen by my eyes ever. This movie went to the extreme and farther.Now, I'm not saying that I"ll watch this movie every weekend with a box of tissues to the side, but I'm glad I watched...and I'm glad I watched it with absolutely no knowledge of the film. Sometimes we should do that.
Oh the times, they are a-changing...
posted on 01 Jul 2009Not a "feel-good" kind of movie, it will definitely move you to tears if you are as tender-hearted as I! As a tragedy, it is a compelling story of our times, as set in the grimy side of an inner-city scenario. What really blows me away is that I know beyond all shadow of a doubt that people really live and breathe and behave that way.The violence is horrific, the language as gritty as you could imagine it being in such a setting. If you are offended by too much profanity, this movie is not for you! The people portrayed are portrayed with all the depth and humanity possible by actors and actresses! Christian Bale, Freddy Rodriguez and Eva Longoria and the other actors and actresses stand up to the test and are believable- and more than once I found my heart either pounding from the hard-moving action- or my eyes swelling with tears for those on "stage".This movie gets 8 stars from me.It is not for everyone.
An excellent debut
posted on 07 Jun 2009Christian Bale's performance in "The Machinist" impressed me enough to track down this equally little known film. I'm glad I did. Bale's performance is electric.Bale plays "Jim Davis", a man whose psychotic dark side is slowly rising up to dominate his personality. Like Travis Bickle, he's recently quit the military and so finds it hard to adjust to civilian life.From the onset, Davis is portrayed as a disturbed individual. But there are clues in his words and actions (and the words and actions of others) that he was once a generous and laid-back individual.Throughout the film, Bale switches gears as he weaves multiple personalities together. There's "Jim the killer", "Jim the servant", "Jim the lover", "Jim the street thug", "Jim the father"....all these different masks which Bale creates and effortlessly assumes when the moment requires it.These masks are used to deceive his girlfriend, his friends, his employees. Everyone. The man's so broken, so confused and tightly wound, that he no longer knows who he is.The film is structured as a road movie, in which Jim and his friend Mike basically drive around over a period of 2 days. What's interesting are the "coming of age" twists to the story. At first the story is centred on Jim, but then Mike's narrative begins to take over. By the end of the film, the two narratives are literally jostling for dominance. Mike "comes of age", leaves his immaturity behind, and defeats Jim.8/10 - "Harsh Times" is a throwback to those tough character-driven movies of the 60s and early 70s. The performances are great and the film has a wonderful, gritty tone. If you're a fan of early period Scorsese (Mean Streets, Taxi Driver etc), you'll love this.
Did I see a different film dawg?
posted on 24 May 2009Looking at the current rating of 7+, it's easy to believe that this is a good film. Please believe me, it isn't the case! No doubt a lot of people enjoyed it and this is often the case with new films on IMDb - lots of people overate new movies on here. I suppose that there's a good chance you'll like it because so many others have rated it so highly. But here are several good reasons not to like this film...1) Stereotypes - it throws up every single stereotype you would care to imagine. It really isn't necessary, as most audiences are intelligent enough to relate to other people based on film content rather than basic characterisations. We all know what the hood is like, dawg.2) Ridiculous dialogue - Yo' wassup daaaawg. All people have different ways of speaking, but this just sounds stupid. Even worse, if you're going to have such stupid dialogue then the least that could be done is to have an actor who is relatively unknown or can at least pull it off. Christian Bale just sounds like Christian Bale doing a stupid voice. However, I have added a mark for the best line in a film for ages - 'that was a serious breach of the homey code'. Absolute genius! What is the homey code? True gangster stuff, I'm sure.3) Christian Bale - Even my brother, who liked the film more than I did - even he couldn't deny that Christian Bale seriously resembles Jim Carey from Me, Myself and Irene. The haircut is identical as well. I guess you can't level this as a criticism, but I did keep thinking it during the film and that was offputting!Other than that, there was some ridiculous slow motion near the end, some pointless scenes and very little to rescue the film. Sometimes the film seemed like a spoof of itself, which I don't believe was the intention. In its defence, there were one or two powerful scenes and I do like the fact that there wasn't an obvious explanation for CB's relationship with the Mexican girl (most films would play on this).I'm glad I saw it because otherwise I wouldn't have known how funny it was - but that doesn't make it a good film. 5/10 - an extra mark for the 'homey code' line, dawg.
I'm gonna marry that homegirl!
posted on 20 May 2009I have used IMDb for many years to get info on upcoming movies though I have never signed up to be able to comment but Harsh Times encouraged me to do so. I spent ten dollars this evening to see this god awful piece of crap. The commercial should be, "From the makers of Training Day comes a horrible waste of time, effort and money." I will NEVER go watch another Christian Bale movie again, his horrific portrayal of a returned Ranger gone back to his gangster ways was such a joke. I'm sure during high school Jim Davis (Christian Bale) and Mike Alonzo (Freddy Rodriguez) were the two nerdy kids trying to fit in with the cholo's. I watched this movie for approximately 8 minutes and knew it would be a VERY long evening. The ONLY reason and I mean only reason I even gave this movie three stars and not one was because, one the black on black Crown Victoria was a nice car, and number two when the old man let off a few rounds of that monstrous gun. Besides that this movie encourages me to write to the production company requesting a refund. Christian Bale you get a big TWO THUMBS DOWN ese.
Disappointing
posted on 16 May 2009Christian Bale has been one of my favorite actors since American Psycho, with his battery of fine films including hits like Equilibrium, Batman Begins, and The Prestige. However, no amount or great future movies could ever atone for having to watch him (poorly) attempting to appear "ghetto" in this mess of a terrible action flick. Did he read the script before he agreed to play the down on his luck hero of Harsh Times? Bale cannot act well in this role, and listening to him moan on about wanting to get "****ed up!" made me want to throw up. Harsh Times? You don't understand the meaning of the words until you sit through this travesty. I can't even allow myself to score this trash any higher than a 1/10, and I think that's being generous.
grim look at the lives of men **possible spoilers
posted on 12 May 2009As a fan of both Christian Bale and Training Day (also written and directed by David Ayers), I picked up this DVD on a whim, without knowing anything about it. Although the Training Day comparisons are inevitable, HT is an entertaining and thought-provoking ride, alternately frustrating, brutal, and surprisingly moving.Harsh Times follows a few days in the lives of two men, Jim (played by Bale) and his best friend, Mike, played by Fred Rodriguez. Jim is a white guy who grew up in LA's (Latino) "hood" and has now returned after a six-year stint in the US Army, and Mike is his life-long "homie." Both are directionless, and spend their days looking for work and getting wasted. Like Training Day, the story mostly revolves around two guys driving around in a car, and LA is as much a character in the story as Jim or Mike. Ayers himself, on the commentary, describes HT as "a love letter to LA," which of course makes us question the relationship.Bale's acting is seamless, as the story examines the roles that men play: Jim's deference and attention to detail as "super-recruit" for a job with a federal security company, his cruel and almost-robotic violent outbursts, his swagger and machismo with his friends, and his love and tenderness for his girlfriend in her Mexican home, the only place he's at peace. Rodriguez provides an excellent foil as the best friend who's been everything to Jim, a home, a family, an ally, and a rival, with both men alternately encouraging and questioning each other's actions. The main difference is that Mike, while immature (which is destructive to his relationship with Sylvia, a former homegirl-turned-lawyer who's outgrown Mike), is not a bad man. His relationship with Sylvia, played by Eva Longoria, is what raises him to a place he might not have gotten to on his own. Just a side note, the post-feminist academic in me wonders why Sylvia sticks around ("A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle," stated by uberfeminist Gloria Steinem, also Bale's stepmother). Many of the women in the film are portrayed as these virtuous, forward-thinking academic types, who seem to choose to stick with shady gang-bangers for no reason other than they've been together a long time. Don't they meet any nice boys at school? I'll have to trust that to Ayers' writing logic, since it's never answered in the film. Their relationship also provides the standard action-movie formula that it's the love of a good woman that's the honour and glory of a man. *yawn* While I was a bit disgruntled with the lack of depth the female roles had, I was pleased with the casting choices of sexy, curvy Latina women--not a stick figure, a facelift, or a pair of implants in sight. You almost forget it's LA!Jim, by contrast, has a dark side that was released in the Army, which he's subsequently unable to fully control. Bale draws on his own darkness, played so well in both The Prestige and American Psycho. As events unfold, Jim's choices lead to a series of exponentially more violent and troubling actions, and ultimately a tragic but somehow unsurprising conclusion.In the commentary, Ayers notes that even in film, actions have consequences. And the actions and consequences in the film have an unnerving way of making the viewer wonder what they'd do differently, or what really makes us better than them. From the start, you feel that these guys are doomed, and you're helpless to do anything but watch the events play out. Although Bale's performance and Ayers' writing create both sympathy and irritation with the characters, Harsh Times is neither smug nor heavy-handed, as it might be if handled differently. While violence as a social problem can be easily written off as an economic and racial divide, this changes when viewed in the context of the lives of real people, which the characters in Harsh Times nearly are. The movie is a brutal but cautiously loving portrayal of a man gone wrong, and ultimately, it's his ordinariness that makes it compellingly, uncomfortably real. Harsh, indeed.
Too long
posted on 10 May 2009This was a terrible movie. at first seeing the previews i thought, OK "why don't they rerelease training day?" Then it grew on me and i saw it. first of all they should have had a Mexican play the role rather than Christian bale. they hade to much "be cew, dogg, homie, etc." OK they could have made something so much better of the movie. it lacked a story line. 9 tenths of the movie is just nothing.I gotta get a job. cool me too. drink a beer. yo lets sell this gun. your crazy bro.then at the very end it gets OK. i wish he was a psysco through out the whole movie rather than in the last 2 minutes. I give this an 0 out of 100 and i loved training day.
this movie sucks
posted on 24 Apr 2009this is quite possibly the worst movie i have ever seen. I should have realized that it was bad when my friend and i were the only ones in the theater. i would give a spoiler just so that maybe somebody out there realizes that it isn't worth watching, but i actually walked out on this movie. This movie is the only movie that i have ever walked out on in my life. an hour and a half into this movie my friend and i thought we had finally figured out what the plot is supposed to be, but we were wrong. i still don't know why this movie was ever made. the movie was so painfully boring that i had no other choice but to walk out on it. i tried to like it but i really couldn't. i like Christian bale, and love eva longoria, but bale's character is psychotically retarded. and the movie is so boring that even longoria's hotness can't make it almost worth watching. i have lost over an hour of my life that i will never have back.
Can't get enough of this film
posted on 22 Apr 2009After watching Harsh Times for the sixth time in six months, I feel compelled to post my eulogy to it on IMDb. Sure some of the scenes were a little rushed and not all the acting was perfect, but it was shot in an incredibly short time and I think this adds to the pace of the movie. What can I say about the Balester? Attempting to play a vato could have been disastrous and indeed some posters seem to think he got it wrong but I think it was a brave move that has paid off in spades. The character he portrays, Jim, had me genuinely laughing one minute and open-mouthed with incredulity the next. Make no mistake, Jim is a psycho and who better to play him that the original American Psycho? Watching Jim and his buddy Mike (ably played by F-Rod), drive around getting into scrapes and getting high made me hanker for my younger days. It also convinced me to take some time out and get wasted which I promptly did – cheers lads. The film has some great moments of suspense to. When the police pull the boys over just as they are getting their lives in order, you honestly believe Jim when he says 'we can dump these guys'. Add to all this a great soundtrack – is there anyone better than Easy E to listen to when 'smoking out'? What pushes this film into the realm of classic though is the amount of fantastic lines in the film. Check out the thread dedicated to this on the message board to see what I mean. A great film, and I can't wait to see what direction Bales career takes now he's established himself.
Brilliant, Captivating And Amazing!
posted on 02 Apr 2009This movie was simply amazing. Lead star Christian Bale portrayed a ex-Army Ranger who is seeking more in his life with a twist on everything. Plagued with horrific post-stress traumatic syndrome, vicious nightmares that haunt him at night make this man lead his life on the edge, playing by his own rules, playing the system and hanging with his best friend and other dudes to roll with. This is a MUST see, if you liked Training Day, you will love this movie. In my personal opinion, it was better than Training Day and I do have much love to the TD. The character depth was really what made it so great that along with it's Training Day similarities, the constant drinking and driving, playing the game, making money on the side, truly the life of gangster with the training of a killer. Jim/Christian really is the soldier of the apocalypse.
Not bad, but not for me
posted on 07 Mar 2009I can understand that this movie would appeal to some people but i honestly found it a disappointment given that the film has very good actors in it. A lot like Training Day, but Training Day was much better.It may be a cultural thing... I live in Australia, and all that 'gangster', shooting 'homie' crap just seems a little over done and fake. I loved the camera work, but the effects and style wasn't consistent and I thought it was a bit too random. And there was no story... no journey. I thought it was a very random film, and I couldn't help noticing that the same guy wrote, directed, and produced the film, which I think reduces the amount of creativity. great acting though...
HARSH TIMES: "A Slice of Real Life for Iraqui Vets in L.A. and Elsewhere"
posted on 29 Jul 2009Christian Bale and cast light up the screen in this accurate and real life of young men in Los Angeles today tinged with involvement in the nightmares and travesty which is Iraq. Despite whatever the film reviews of HARSH TIMES, this film really captures the issues which are now bringing to reality and to the surface of young men-and, yes there are potential women as well-from the war in Iraq. The scenes which come to the screen of Bale's nightmares must effect all those who have gone to Iraq and served our country so valiantly, and, frighteningly. I salute them and the psych nightmares which befall them.Damn the reviews! Bale and Freddy Rodriquez light up the screen in this film of "real dialog" and issues which have set in for Vets coming back to this country to deal with Iraq and the true insanity of that war, are the characters which are so brilliantly played by Bale and Rodriquez. The Mexican scenes reminded me of BABEL and yet, HARSH TIMES truly depicts for 2006 the horror of what Iraq has been for our soldiers.HARSH TIMES might not go down with the global arena of reviewers, but as I left a theater in Los Angeles, this film resonated with this West side audience and is one film that is going to stay with me a very long time. Christian Bale, "you are so awesome..."