Has Christian Bale Lost Steam?

[Eggyman]

Fair enough... but this thread is an open invitation for comments such as... ''oh here comes the Christan Bale fan service''. It's things like this on the hype which makes it hard to have a serious discussion.

And yes... I realize that I fueled the fires here today myself and for that I apologize.

Perhaps the thread has a valid question... one where a yes or no with reasons would suffice. I just don't see this thread going anywhere positive and that's merely my viewpoint.



And without the risk of sounding rude... who are you his back-up singer?

No worries, dewd. I was only voicing my opinion and I did see where you were coming from. It's not like I thought you were trolling. Fair play

 

[TheRunningMan]

wasn't that a Marlon Brando movie?

it's a line from the movie "airheads"

 

[Cain]

"What happened to Buzzsaw?"
"he had to split."

"I'm a quick learner and right now I'm about to give the audience what I think they want."

 

[Cain]

it's a line from the movie "airheads"

I knew it sounded familiar. I need to get that movie on dvd it's probably $5 or less, underrated comedy Joe Mantegna was hilarious and so was Buscemi.

 

[TheRunningMan]

I knew it sounded familiar. I need to get that movie on dvd it's probably $5 or less, underrated comedy Joe Mantegna was hilarious and so was Buscemi.

that movie is the ship. soooo funny

 

[TheRunningMan]

"I'm a quick learner and right now I'm about to give the audience what I think they want."

"Are you ready for pain!? Are you ready for suffering!? Then you are ready for Captain Freedom's workout!!!"

 

[Spider-Vader]

I thought that Linda Hamilton, in T2 especially, was better.

You know what they say about opinions though, so to each his/her own.

I never got the praise for Biehn. He did pretty alright in T1 and was actually quite good in in The Abyss but IMHO he isn't a very good actor.

You forgot Hicks.

So...this thread was created because of the disappointing opening for Terminator Salvation?

Basically.

I don't think Bales has lost his steam, it's just that WB picked a horrible date for Terminator (Hell, it appears that everyone except Pixar did since Up is the only summer movie to be #1 for two weeks so far). It's also that his mainstream roles have better actors in it, that overshadow him. I like Bale, but there are much better actors out there (Robert Downey Jr. FTW).

 

[Cain]

"Are you ready for pain!? Are you ready for suffering!? Then you are ready for Captain Freedom's workout!!!"

"Hello cutie pie!, one of us is in deeeeeep trahbel"

 

[That-Guy]

I think that Bale has been overshadowed in his last two major films, but I don't think that it's his fault. Heath Ledger's Joker overshadowed him I suppose, but you're talking about a character that is BUILT to steal the spotlight... even if the Joker had only been in three scenes, he would have still be what people talked about. A character who is grand and theatrical almost always grabs the attention, versus someone darker and more reserved. Thus I really think the comparison is unfair.

As for Terminator Salvation, I really don't think Sam Worthington did anything outstanding. There are two simple reasons people seemed to like him better: 1. they found his storyline more interesting and 2. people are so impressionable by bullsh** that they turned on Bale over the whole rant thing. Whether you sided with him or the "I was looking at the light" guy, don't judge the man's acting ability on something that he did off camera. Hell, there are plenty of bad things people do in this world... many that are much worse than cussing someone out.

 

[블라스]

You know what should lose steam?
This thread!

 

[TheRunningMan]

You know what should lose steam?
This thread!

let off some steam bennett

 

[Adrian89]

Genius it is!

Haha this would be great! I can picture it now: 90% of Bale's words will be "F**K!" and Rogen will be funny as always! I'd definetly go see it.

 

[The Guard]

Both being overshadowed and being overrated are subjective.

I don't think it matters whether he's in a mainstream role or an indie one. You know what you're going to get from Bale. That makes him dependable, but ultimately, it can become predictable, and boring.

I don't define range as "Can you semi convincingly play each genre?". Almost any good actor can do that. I define range as being able to go outside yourself, to become someone else. Bale rarely does that. You can always see, hear, and feel plenty of him in his characters. He adapts the characters to suit his style, and in my mind, a truly great actor adapts themselves to fit a character.

 

[Eggyman]

Both being overshadowed and being overrated are subjective.

I don't think it matters whether he's in a mainstream role or an indie one. You know what you're going to get from Bale. That makes him dependable, but ultimately, it can become predictable, and boring.

I don't define range as "Can you semi convincingly play each genre?". Almost any good actor can do that. I define range as being able to go outside yourself, to become someone else. Bale rarely does that. You can always see, hear, and feel plenty of him in his characters. He adapts the characters to suit his style, and in my mind, a truly great actor adapts themselves to fit a character.

I would like to tell you that I love you... but I'm afraid of being rejected

 

[The Guard]

Being rejected is overrated.

 

[Eggyman]

It doesn't have a lot of range, from all accounts.

 

[[A]]

Airheads is for dumb people. Like a Bay movie.

 

[TheRunningMan]

Airheads is for dumb people. Like a Bay movie.

I beg to differ

 

[SatEL]

Throughout most of this decade, Christian Bale was one of the most fascinating actors in movies. Yet recently he seems to have lost some steam. First, he gets over-shadowed by Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. Then, he gets over-shadowed again in Terminator Salvation by that Sam Worthington guy. Did I spell his name correctly? And his next movie is with Johnny Depp, arguably the best actor of the past 20 years. In other words...he's likely to get over-shadowed AGAIN.

Remember when Bale was the most talked about aspect of a movie. He's now gonna go three straight movies where he's not. wow. He had a good run.

No he didnt, in truth they both sucked in Salvation, I couldnt see all the hype that Cameron put behind this Worthington guy. And someone needs to get him an accent coach because his accent kept switching in the movie.

 

[Wiseman]

Airheads is for dumb people. Like a Bay movie.

Why does it say your location is Buenos Aires, Argentina? Didn't that place get leveled by the bugs on Klendathu?

 

[SatEL]

I don't think he's lost any steam at all, personally. Not being the most memorable person or character in a film doesn't rank how good that actor is, or how good the actors choices are. If Bale was the most memorable character in 3:10 to Yuma, The Dark Knight, Public Enemies and Terminator Salvation, he wouldn't have done the film he signed on for justice and this thread would be "Has Christian Bale's Ego Exploded?". Bale's as good as he's ever been as Bruce Wayne/Batman, but the film is rightly centered around Dent/Two-Face's arc, and memorable because of Joker, because it's what services the film best. Bale doesn't stand-out, but his performance is solid. Terminator Salvation was a mis-step, in my opinion, wasn't a big fan of Bale or Worthington's performances (Yelchin needed more screen-time). Again, like The Dark Knight, Bale's performances in 3:10 to Yuma and The Prestige fit the characters and let the more flamboyant character take the spotlight, which was right for each respective story. Bale's scenes with Crowe are brilliant in the film, and his performance in The Prestige is better than Jackman's (in my opinion) - I much prefer the character of Alfred Borden over Robert Angier, he's a far more interesting character at the end of it.

Obviously, haven't seen Public Enemies, but it's the story of the hunt for John Dillinger and, in part, the formation of the FBI. It's never going to be the latter that's more compelling, and Bale's character is suited to being second draw to Depp's Dillinger. Saying that, he's in a Michael Mann film alongside Depp and Cotillard... I don't see how thats losing any steam.

I agree give the guy some Strepsils Cool and his good to go.

 

[JAK®]

I don't like Christian Bale very much. I'm disappointed with his Batman. He looks bland in Terminator Salvation. And to be honest he comes across as a nutcase in real life (especially after his infamous rant on the Terminator set)

I liked him in Equilibrium and The Prestige, and from what I've seen in American Psycho he is good in that.

But when it comes to blockbuster movies, I don't think he is cut out for it. What someone said earlier in this thread is true; he lacks charisma. Unless the role requires him to really act (which Batman and John Connor do not) he doesn't have the presence required to engage the audience.

 

[Figs]

Both being overshadowed and being overrated are subjective.

I don't think it matters whether he's in a mainstream role or an indie one. You know what you're going to get from Bale. That makes him dependable, but ultimately, it can become predictable, and boring.

I don't define range as "Can you semi convincingly play each genre?". Almost any good actor can do that. I define range as being able to go outside yourself, to become someone else. Bale rarely does that. You can always see, hear, and feel plenty of him in his characters. He adapts the characters to suit his style, and in my mind, a truly great actor adapts themselves to fit a character.

In all fairness though, most and I mean most actors seem like themselves in most movies now days anyways. That's why I love character actors especially, they aren't afraid to pick roles in sci-fi, fantasy, action or horror films that literally force them to change. For example a number of the roles Johnny Depp has done as well as Keaton in Beetlejuice and Ledger as the Joker.

Example, the academy and a lot of people I know and talk to seem to really like Clooney and think he is a pretty damn good actor. Personally I think he's pretty good but regardless...he's almost the same character in most of his movies...boring.

I think Bale is an incredibly subtle actor and if you actually focus you can see how he plays each character differently even if a lot of his picks are dark or haunted/depressed types. What he needs to do is try some way different characters to play. I agree with some who said he should do a comedy. Not a black/dark comedy like American Psycho but a real comedy, you know...change it up a bit.

 

[블라스]

Why does it say your location is Buenos Aires, Argentina? Didn't that place get leveled by the bugs on Klendathu?

Hahahaha

 

[batman11]

let off some steam bennett

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-tRErs5UcI&feature=related