Harsh Times

I’ve never been much for a crime drama but I am in love with Christian Bale. So when I was handed the movie “Harsh Times” to watch I had mixed feelings about the movie to come. “Harsh Times” is a small budget crime drama movie released in 2006. The film stars Christian Bale and Freddy Rodriguez.

Jim Davis is an ex-military man with an honourable discharge who is living in south LA and spends his time with his best friend Mike Alonzo and an assortment of other low-class, small time criminals drinking and smoking marijuana. They talk tough, walk tough and pack heat as they drift through their life making half-assed atempts at bettering their situation but mostly screwing up ever chance they ever get one way or another. Jim is trying to get a job in law enforcement and Mike is just trying to get a job. Right at the start of the movies things all go to hell for our two protagonists and they don’t do much to help it.

Then suddenly they get a chance. Mike runs into an old friend who hooks him up with a good job and a chance at a career. Jim, after being turned down by the LAPD, gets a chance at working for Homeland security and suddenly things are looking good. Things look especially good for Jim who is trying his hardest to get a career going so he can marry his girlfriend who lives in Mexico and bring her to LA to live happily ever after.

But there’s one big problem for Jim and Mike: Jim is completely bat-shit insane. We get a little insight into his problems every now and then but mostly we just see Jim and Mike drinking and smoking and trying to sell a gun. In fact Jim’s gun is almost the whole plot while everything else is just a sub-plot. As you might imagine, it’s not hugely exciting to see two guys drink and smoke then go to job interviews and occasionally commit a small time crime. That sums up the whole movie. “Harsh Times” just isn’t very exciting.

Until about the last half hour. Jim has got a job and is off to Columbia but before that him and Mike are going to visit Jim’s girl in Mexico. Things don’t go too well for Jim who is getting pretty crazy and we finally see some real character and plot development. Jim is suffering from a bad case of unaddressed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and one hell of a death wish. Jim really is crazy and unable to function in society despite all his efforts. What’s worse is that he’s been dumped by the army down at rock bottom and has no way of actually bettering himself.

Whoa! Where did all the social commentary come from? The last hour has been two guys getting stoned with friends and talking about getting a job. Now all of a sudden we have a moral about the military and society? Damn!

The movie jams all it’s important bits into the last part of the movie and the rest of it was pretty meaningless build up. Is it worth it? I think so.

Do I really even need to talk about the acting? This is a Christian Bale movie and Christian Bale is a great actor who plays every role, no matter how different, with the same passion. He may not be the best but he’s definitely up there. Freddy Rodriguez was a surprise to me because I’m only familiar with him in the comedy “Scrubs”. His performance is a pleasant surprise though as he plays Bale’s down-on-his-luck side-kick flawlessly. While the supporting cast lacks any real stand outs they certainly give the film the extra character and emotion it needs. All in all it’s a graceful and eloquent performance from the cast that gets a thumbs up!

I give this movie 3.5/5 9mm hollow points. The movie left me a little lost for feeling. I can’t decide if I like it or if it was too boring. The climax of the movie certainly grabbed my attention but I can’t help wondering if there was a better way to tell the story. Crime dramas really aren’t my thing but if you like a little bit of street talk and drugs with a little less Will Smith shooting someone every three minutes then there’s a good chance you’ll dig this movie.

Beyond that there’s not a lot I can say. Except maybe…

I love Christian Bale.