| Harsh Times | 
 enlarge | Director: David Ayer
Actors: Christian Bale, Freddy Rodriguez, Eva Longoria, Chaka Forman, Tammy Trull
Studio: Weinstein Company
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.95
Buy Used: $3.99
You Save: $10.96 (73%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  58 reviews
Sales Rank: 6244
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 116
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 79955
UPC: 796019799553
EAN: 0796019799553
ASIN: B000KX0IM2
Theatrical Release Date: November 10, 2006
Release Date: March 13, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Previously viewed DVDs. Shrinkwrapped in mint condition ***100% GUARANTEED!!!***
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Amazon.com
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
Product Description
(Action) Bale stars as an ex-Army Ranger who finds himself slipping back into his old life of petty crime and booze after a job offer from the LAPD evaporates. Honorable discharged Homeland Security wants to recruit him for some special ops in Central America but first he has to pass a urine test...which proves difficult. Film directorial debut for Ayer who has written such box office hits as TRAINING DAY U-571 and THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS System Requirements:Run Time: 116 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/CRIME & CRIMINALS UPC: 796019799553 Manufacturer No: 79955
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| Customer Reviews: Read 53 more reviews...
 Overlooked. Worth the Watch. August 12, 2008
Jim is the type of guy that anyone may know. He served his time as a soldier and now it's his dream to become a cop in Los Angeles. The problem is not only does he spend most days drinking, smoking pot, and looking for ways to either get laid or kick the snot out of someone, but his time as a soldier gets to him more than he lets on. He has nightmares every night and usually wakes up screaming, has cold chills, and is just one step away from the brink of insanity. His best friend, Mike, just wants to get a job so he can make his wife happy, but his drinking problem gets him into more trouble than it should. Jim and Mike hang out all the time, so when one gets in trouble the other one has his back. While Mike has his wife, Sylvia, Jim has a girlfriend, Marta, back in Mexico who he hopes to get across the border once he gets that dream job. So when Jim gets a call from Homeland Security and Mike has an interview go really well at one of the best businesses in town, they think their lives are beginning to look up. But what'll happen when Jim finally gets pushed too far? Who will he take it out on and how many people will be caught in the crossfire?
This movie kind of plays out like some of my favorite songs. Things start off slow, but are slowly building towards a big finale. Once things start rolling, it's inevitable to try and resist the mayhem that's sure to ensue. That's a perfect way to describe Harsh Times. The film is generallly about a subject I usually have no interest in, but the characters involved, the way events unfold, and the way Christian Bale portrays Jim Luther Davis kept me watching. Watching Jim and Mike basically flush their lives down the toilet by being the screwups they are was enough to keep my attention, but the film's true gem, other than Christian Bale's performance(which I'll get to momentarily), is the last twenty minutes or so of the film.
Other than the ending, the film has one really surprising scene that caught me off guard. It's just so spontaneous and no one will see it coming. It's an interesting scene, as well. It puts what Jim went through as a soldier into perspective as what happens in said scene doesn't phase him at all, but Mike is practically traumatized in the process. It seems kind of unimportant at the time, but is one of the first scenes that comes to mind after the credits begin to roll.
Christian Bale never ceases to amaze me in the films he's a part of and he's done so yet again. It's interesting that he's had so many different accents amongst all the roles he's had and he's added another one to his repertoire. I guess the weirdest thing for me was watching him as Batman in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight and then watching this after that. Now I'm going to expect to hear Batman say something like, "Yeah, homie. That's how we roll in these streets, dawg," the next time I see either one of those films. It's just a transition I didn't expect him to make and so flawlessly. Bale's characterization is also shown in top form in this film, as well. The transformation he makes from beginning to end is incredible. The way the film is edited when Jim is going through one of his episodes is also a nice touch. You know that once the screen has that yellow tint to it that something big is about to go down.
Harsh Times is a crime, drama, thriller that is definitely worth the watch. While the film may not appeal to everyone, it probably has more to offer than anyone gives it credit for. Christian Bale doesn't disappoint as his characterization is as strong as ever this time around. If you're a Christian Bale fan, then there's no reason why you wouldn't enjoy this film. If not, then I still highly recommend it for the finale of the film alone. If you like films ending on an intense note, then you're sure not to go away empty handed. This seems like a film that tends to be overlooked by people that should definitely be giving it more praise than I've ever heard anyone give it. See this film.
Rating: 7/10
 WANTED: Law Enforcement Recruits Willing To Kill August 7, 2008
As in real life, there is a fine line that separates the good guys (cops) from the bad guys (the crooks). Good guys are never just good guys in real life, or in a David Ayer script (TRAINING DAY). Sometimes they are conflicted and sometimes they're just plain old criminal punks. And sometimes they're walking on the edge of a criminally insane abyss. Ayer writes mostly crime drama with rogue cop elements and cop-gone-bad conflict. Ayer directs here for the first time. Christian Bale plays Jim, a whacked-out psychopathic ex-Ranger, recently discharged from Active Duty in The Middle East. Jim drags his best friend Mike, played by Freddy Rodriguez, thru the crime ridden streets of Hispanic East L.A. and down into the dark abyss of his personal psychosis. The two wander aimlessly thru their days drinking, smoking reefer, looking for trouble, and trying to sell a stolen gun. Mike is pretending to look for work, while Jim searches for a law enforcement job that will provide him with a license to kill. The L.A.P.D. doesn't want him, but Homeland Security does. But, something insane is about to spoil Jim's "dream job" ...
That something is Jim.
While the plot appears mundane, the inner life of these two men is anything but prosaic.
The script is an actor's dream. It is a showcase character piece for the fine acting talent of Christian Bale. He produced the film. In my opinion, this is his best performance. (I thought he was "F" ing Great in AMERICAN PSYCHO and THE MACHINIST, but he really excels in this performance. Not once did I think I was watching Christian Bale. Or Patrick Bateman.) Everytime he squints his eyes or turns his head in this film, you're bracing yourself for what might follow. A brilliant actor in an amazing role. Freddy Rodriguez is equally impressive in his role. At first, the two seem oddly incompatible. By the end of the film, they are wallowing in on-screen chemistry. They also have great comic timing together. Excellent job!
Eva Longoria plays Mike's girlfriend. She is poignant and beautiful.
The dialogue is a humorously realistic mix of brazen street lingo and (subtitled) Spanish. Some of it is downright hilarious!
"That's a serious breech of the homey code, man."
Like other reviewers, I was instantly struck with this film's resemblance to TAXI DRIVER. Although, the dynamics of "loner pychosis" is absent from this film. And, this Masterpiece of psychotic Suspense stands entirely on it's own. A brilliant film with brilliant performances. Went to bed last night after viewing this film, and I can't get it out of my head. One of The Best Films of 2006. And David Ayer's Best Screenplay.
This film is an INSTANT CULT CLASSIC!
ENJOY.
Harsh times indeed August 6, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I picked this movie up in the bargain bin after reading the back cover and I had never even herd of it. It sounded interesting enough. What I didn't realize was how powerful of a movie it was going to be. Christian Bale plays a man who grew up in a Latino community and his best friend is played by Freddy Rodriguez. Bale fought terrorists in Afganastan or some place over there and the way they explain his character he sounds like a killing machine. He and Freddy Rodriguez are looking for jobs and Christian Bale already has one set up. But then he gets a letter saying he is uneligible to become part of the LAPD. He freaks out a bit, but then gets recruited by Homeland Security. So now he just has to drive Freddy Rodriguez around so he can find a job. This leads to a lot of drinking and driving and leaving fake messages on Freddy Rodriguez's answering machine so his wife thinks he is actually looking for a job. But, Christian Bale little by little ends up going crazy because of the effects of going to the war, and Freddy Rodriguez doesn't realize it until too late. I really don't want to give anything away, but the thing I liked most about this movie was that all the events played out like you would think they would in real life. The violence, the way friends talk to eachother, the job process... The movie just gets better and better as it goes along, and only lets up a bit towards the end, but it is still a great movie. Christian Bale is amazing as expected, but Freddy Rodriguez really blew me away. I thought he was even better than Christian Bale.
Rating- 4/5
 Forgetable movie August 5, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
The reviews of deeper meaning to this movie...there may be some truth but this movie is not the one to see. Christian Bale produced it. I am a big fan of Christian but this movie left me wondering what he was thinking. Freddie R. is a good actor. If you must see this movie, wait for the next showing on Cable...that is where I was introduced to it.
Pay attention August 5, 2008
I actualy just finished watching this movie on Showtime...I read alot of the reviews on here and I noticed alot of you didnt pay enough attention. for example, Jim was offered a job with Home Land Security not the F.B.I.,....anyhow, I bought this movie over Training Day...That should give you a clue of why I'm rating this a five star movie...Except for nobody really says pisto anymore..
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