CHRISTIAN BALE BARES DEMONS IN HARSH TIMES

In Harsh Times Christian Bale stars as Jim Davis an ex-Army Ranger discharged from Iraq who comes home to South Central Los Angeles still haunted by nightmares of his former tour of duty.

With his friend Mike in tow played by Freddy Rodriguez the two misguided buddies embark on a partying spree that ultimately ends in destruction. Christian had to handle several types of guns for the role.

“He’s returning to his old neighborhood and essentially he’s kind of a white boy who’s been sort of fostered by the Chicano culture. He’s somebody who absolutely understands and loves it, loves the culture but he’s always somewhat an outsider just a little bit so he has to kind of go that extra mile to be noticed.”

Christian waited a long time to work with director David Ayer. Originally he auditioned for Ethan Hawke’s role in Training Day but was promised another shot from Ayer. Harsh Times was the script Christian gravitated towards as the character just jumped off the page.

“It’s just about a physicality. It’s about a confidence and the way that you move. It’s about the way that you hold the pistol. It’s about being convinced of that. That was so much a part of it that Jim had graduated from being kind of a street level thug to a real effective killer.”

Next Christian does his best Bob Dylan in Todd Haynes’ film I’m Not There where seven characters illustrate a time in the musician’s life. Harsh Times opens tomorrow in theaters.

“He’s very likable, I like him but he’s not necessarily someone you’d want to be in the same room as but certainly he’s got a lot of charisma. I certainly found that when I first read the script but he’s a shark in the sense that sharks have to keep moving or else they die. And he’s very much like that. He has one hell of a brain on him but he can’t admit it. He kind of refuses to show that side of himself.”