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Mihajlovic · 13th March 2007, 10:12

"Harsh Times"

Watched it yesterday, not too bad, 7.5/10

Film Notes

Like Henry Jaglom’s Tracks and Ted Kotcheff’s First Blood, David Ayer’s Harsh Times chronicles the downward spiral of a young war veteran as his attempts to assimilate into civilian life go violently awry. A twisted, skewed look at what constitutes the American Dream this bleak odyssey centres on intense and out-of-control Jim David (Christian Bale), a recently discharged US Ranger as he cruises the mean streets of south central LA, killing time and looking for trouble.

He soon finds it. And, like the original bad influence, along the way he draws best pal Mike Alvarez (Rodriguez) into his sticky web. Soon they are embroiled in an escalating life of casual crime, often committed while smashed out of their minds on drugs. Yet Jim yearns for something more. A war junkie who lives on adrenaline, he sees redemption in patriotism and, against the odds, lands a job in the covert world of Homeland Security. That means he might not be able to marry his Mexican girlfriend. But Jim is drawn to badness like a moth to a flame. He can’t resist a road trip to Mexico – one last hurrah before he goes legit for Uncle Sam. Naturally, Mike goes with him…

In Harsh Times writer/director Ayer considers the effects of sustained violence on the psyche of the modern combat soldier. Jim emerges as seriously disturbed and borderline schizophrenic as he attempts to suppress the memories that haunt his dreams and bleed into his conscious thoughts. After American Psycho and The Machinist (screened in BFF2005) Christian Bale delivers another shattering portrait of trauma and psychosis while simultaneously presenting a charismatic but morally corrupt hero. Like Robert De Niro’s Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver, he drifts between light and dark but is unable to withdraw from the blackness that envelops him. A brilliant study of violence and madness with another magnificent performance from Bale – Wales’s answer to Johnny Depp.

13th March 2007, 10:12	#576 (permalink)
Mihajlovic Its Baltic! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Републикa Српскa Posts: 5,892	"Harsh Times" Watched it yesterday, not too bad, 7.5/10 Film Notes Like Henry Jaglom’s Tracks and Ted Kotcheff’s First Blood, David Ayer’s Harsh Times chronicles the downward spiral of a young war veteran as his attempts to assimilate into civilian life go violently awry. A twisted, skewed look at what constitutes the American Dream this bleak odyssey centres on intense and out-of-control Jim David (Christian Bale), a recently discharged US Ranger as he cruises the mean streets of south central LA, killing time and looking for trouble. He soon finds it. And, like the original bad influence, along the way he draws best pal Mike Alvarez (Rodriguez) into his sticky web. Soon they are embroiled in an escalating life of casual crime, often committed while smashed out of their minds on drugs. Yet Jim yearns for something more. A war junkie who lives on adrenaline, he sees redemption in patriotism and, against the odds, lands a job in the covert world of Homeland Security. That means he might not be able to marry his Mexican girlfriend. But Jim is drawn to badness like a moth to a flame. He can’t resist a road trip to Mexico – one last hurrah before he goes legit for Uncle Sam. Naturally, Mike goes with him… In Harsh Times writer/director Ayer considers the effects of sustained violence on the psyche of the modern combat soldier. Jim emerges as seriously disturbed and borderline schizophrenic as he attempts to suppress the memories that haunt his dreams and bleed into his conscious thoughts. After American Psycho and The Machinist (screened in BFF2005) Christian Bale delivers another shattering portrait of trauma and psychosis while simultaneously presenting a charismatic but morally corrupt hero. Like Robert De Niro’s Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver, he drifts between light and dark but is unable to withdraw from the blackness that envelops him. A brilliant study of violence and madness with another magnificent performance from Bale – Wales’s answer to Johnny Depp.