Has Christian Bale Lost Steam?

[The Riddler]

i agree. he couldn't hold his own next to crowe. he was upstaged. whenever they had scenes together, the camera just loved russel more. i always look at the scenes between denzel and gene hackman in crimson tide. they fed off each other so well, i though the camera was going to split in half. their performances were so great, they could've each used their own camera. same with gene and dustin in runaway jury when they had that awesome conversation in the restroom. same with pacino and deniro in heat. like 2 gods doing battle. i love it when 2 great actors bring their absolute best and neither backs down to the others greatness. back to bale. he's good, but not on that level where he can hold his own against the real greats.

i actually disagree. bale is good enough, it's the situation, the characters and the script that determines how well it plays out.

 

[Nina7]

Bale was fantastic in 3:10 to Yuma. The last scenes in the hotel room with Crowe made that movie. No one does raw desperation better than Bale. I also loved his scene with his wife when he complains about how he's sick of how she looks at him. Crowe had the fun outlaw character, but Bale's role was the heart of that movie. I think it's my favorite Bale performance of the past 5 years.

 

[Gamma Ray]

He has gone too mainstream. After Terminator and Batman he should do more things like The Machinist.

 

[Catman]

He did do Rescue Dawn, but yea, I guess most of his movies recently have been mainstream. Batman, Prestige, 3:10 to Yuma, Terminator, and Public Enemies are mainstream.

 

[Heisenberg]

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.

 

[dude stannis]

I just think he's been phoning it in. Both in The Dark Knight and in Terminator he just showed up to collect a paycheck.

 

[TruerToTheCore]

Bale may be a fine actor, but he lacks charisma. That's why "hero" roles are just wrong for him. And starving yourself to death may show your commitment but not your skills.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

I just think he's been phoning it in. Both in The Dark Knight and in Terminator he just showed up to collect a paycheck.

Co-signed but I'm going to watch TDK for a 3rd time to see if I'm being too hard on him. I suspect I'm not but who the hell knows?

 

[Bunker]

bale is being overshadowed because of the roles he chooses in these films. he was offered the meatier role of marcus but wanted conner. he plays purvis in public enemies which is a rather boring, straight character. he plays batman who is the star, but that isn't the most flamboyant or eye catching role in tdk. in 3:10 to yuma, again he's the straight shooter against the more charismatic villain.

his best role, and probably the only role i ever was blown away by of his, was in american psycho. the range, from emotionless, to madness, to pure joy, to smugness, to frustration; the role had everything.

i think bale is a great actor but his recent work and character choices have been rather "standard" and easily overlooked.

This pretty much sums it up. He could be an amazing actor, but his role choices are holding him back.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

I just don't understand why he wanted a less interesting role in Salvation? I'm partly thankful he got the script changed because that orginal script was just a total rape of the franchise and deserved to be burned but still...

 

[dark_b]

why was this thread opened after terminator? why not after TDK?
why do i have a feeling that you opened this because terminator will be Bales first big budget ''bomb''.

Bale was never a name for money.never IMO.

 

[Two-Face]

Bale hasn't any lost steam, I love all his films every time I see him on screen the guy is just too good and I'm shocked he hasn't won any Best Actor.

 

[dude stannis]

I just don't understand why he wanted a less interesting role in Salvation? I'm partly thankful he got the script changed because that orginal script was just a total rape of the franchise and deserved to be burned but still...

You know what? Bale made him uninteresting. If you'd gotten an action star who didn't take himself so seriously, Connor would've been a good role. As I've said before Bruce Willis doing his typical Bruce Willis shtick would've been 1000x better.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

bale is being overshadowed because of the roles he chooses in these films. he was offered the meatier role of marcus but wanted conner. he plays purvis in public enemies which is a rather boring, straight character. he plays batman who is the star, but that isn't the most flamboyant or eye catching role in tdk. in 3:10 to yuma, again he's the straight shooter against the more charismatic villain.

his best role, and probably the only role i ever was blown away by of his, was in american psycho. the range, from emotionless, to madness, to pure joy, to smugness, to frustration; the role had everything.

i think bale is a great actor but his recent work and character choices have been rather "standard" and easily overlooked.

This is pretty much exactly how I feel.

In 3:10 to Yuma, ANYONE would of been overshadowed by Crowe. Both because of his performance and the character.

Who are people gonna take notice of and remember more? The flamboyant bad ass villain. Or the straight laced, by the book good guy? It's a no brainer.

And IMO no one, NO ONE would of done Patrick Bateman justice like how Bale did. Should of won a ****ing Oscar for that role.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

why was this thread opened after terminator? why not after TDK?
why do i have a feeling that you opened this because terminator will be Bales first big budget ''bomb''.

Bale was never a name for money.never IMO.

There is always a backlash. Fans went overboard and now it's the naysayers turn.

I think that Bale is capable of solid performances but he is becoming a one trick pony and that trick isn't even all that interesting.

My take on Bale is that his hotness, in my eyes, overshadowed the fact that he just isn't as good as he is made out to be by the Bale loons. Again he has given good performances but he is an overly studied, overly serious, grim actor who I can only take in small doses now. Particularly in the Batman films, I don't believe him for a minute in his Bruce Wayne role...not for a minute. I very much dislike that he doesn't feel genuine to me. It seems like he is acting. That scene in BB where he supposedly gives up, I didn't believe him for a second. He was better in BB but he has been lazy as hell in these Batman flicks. He has no real charm in these Batman flicks. The truth is I won't give two s**ts when he is recast. And oh yeah, his Batman voice sucks ass.

I suspect that Katie Holmes suckage in BB made me ignore the fact that Bale just hasn't been that good of a Bruce Wayne/Batman. Then again I don't hold BB as anything nearing a great movie so nothing really 100% worked, except the score.

I just plain don't get the unfilltered love for this man, especially if you've only seen his mostly charmless Batman performances.

TDK was great because of the writing, (kicking Goyer aside did wonders for this franchise) the non action scene directing, Oldman, Ackhart and the late Heath Ledger. His performance would have been the worse in the film if that useless female character hadn't been so poorly written again. So happy that RD is dead, Batman doesn't need a Mary Jane who he doesn't even have chemistry with. Catwoman should be Bats only great love if you ask me. Yep WB never makes stupid choices, they love us thats why they told the writers to make up a useless girl next door/ love of Bruce Waynes life. Oy ve.

Well, this post is more ranty than I set out to be.

I'm sitting in the theater watching Heath Ledger being awesome in the hanging upside down scene and then Bale comes in and almost ruins it with his terrible old hooker voice and overacting.

I STILL CHOKE BACK GIGGLES WHEN HE DOES THAT VOICE. I CAN'T F**KING TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY WHEN HE IS IN THE BATMAN COSTUME, THATS A HUGE PROBLEM BECAUSE HE IS IN IT ALOT.

This word is overused but it must be said:

Although I think that Bale is a solid actor who is capable of a great performance he is currently....the most OVERRATED ACTOR ON THE INTERNETS.

Peace out.

P.S

I shutter at the idea of charmless, grim Bale and bland old Brandon Routh is a Batman/Superman flick.

Good thing that isn't happening!

Now I'm really done.

This Rant has been brought to you by I SEE SPIDEY and viewers like you.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

The voice isn't all his by the way. It was electronically enhanced in post production. For some strange reason. Take that up with Nolan.

And I personally think one of his best performances was in Harsh Times. That was a great performance and no one can say he phoned it in. It was quite a subtly disturbing performance actually.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

The voice isn't all his by the way. It was electronically enhanced in post production. For some strange reason. Take that up with Nolan.

And I personally think one of his best performances was in Harsh Times. That was a great performance and no one can say he phoned it in. It was quite a subtly disturbing performance actually.

He was actually pretty good in that flick.

You know what? Bale made him uninteresting. If you'd gotten an action star who didn't take himself so seriously, Connor would've been a good role. As I've said before Bruce Willis doing his typical Bruce Willis shtick would've been 1000x better.

Agreed.

Any actor who gave a f**k enough to entertain the audience would have been better. Instead we got grimy Mcpaycheck being one note with an admittedly underwritten character.

Still, Yelchin came out smelling like roses and his part wasn't even that big and it wasn't well written either.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Yea, it wasn't the best movie ever. But his performance was great. Those scenes with his Mexican mistress were really quite shocking.

But yes I do think he is slightly over-rated most of the time. But he is a decent actor when the role requires it. People talk about The Machinist and Rescue Dawn as though the only things he done in those films were lose some weight. But he was actually very good in those films regardless of his commitment to the role by losing all that weight.

And with Terminator? I can't really judge because I haven't seen it yet. But why do people expect a subtle and nuanced performance in a frickin big budget action fest? Surely it was inevitable that it wasn't going to be one of his best performances? The material doesn't call for it. The best acting performance in the WHOLE Terminator franchise came from Michael Biehn. It isn't a franchise that calls for stunning, nuanced performances.

 

[dude stannis]

I think he should do a couple of comedies. Send himself up a little bit. It worked miracles for Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Yea Bale does need to lighten up. He should do some comedy/satire or something.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

Yea, it wasn't the best movie ever. But his performance was great. Those scenes with his Mexican mistress were really quite shocking.

But yes I do think he is slightly over-rated most of the time. But he is a decent actor when the role requires it. People talk about The Machinist and Rescue Dawn as though the only things he done in those films were lose some weight. But he was actually very good in those films regardless of his commitment to the role by losing all that weight.

And with Terminator? I can't really judge because I haven't seen it yet. But why do people expect a subtle and nuanced performance in a frickin big budget action fest? Surely it was inevitable that it wasn't going to be one of his best performances? The material doesn't call for it. The best acting performance in the WHOLE Terminator franchise came from Michael Biehn. It isn't a franchise that calls for stunning, nuanced performances.

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.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

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.

Actually yea, Hamilton was great too.

It's not just his acting ability, which I think is pretty good for a typical action hero, it's his presence. Michael Biehn was just the epitome of bad ass, for me. More so than Arnie and Sly and the like. Because he was a more realistic bad ass who didn't seem literally invincible and didn't spout off corny one liners every second.

And he was brilliant in T1, Aliens, The Abyss and Tomb Stone in particular. He stole the show in Tomb Stone from guys like Kurt Russell, Sam Elliot and Bill Paxton. Well, IMO he did anyway.

 

[dark_b]

Yea Bale does need to lighten up. He should do some comedy/satire or something.

i think the world would end.

i just can not imagine Bale doing a comedy.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

It would be pretty insane wouldn't it?

I'd imagine someone sending him a script of a satire movie taking the piss out of over serious method actors, and him literally exploding with rage.

 

[Dark Victory]

^I could see Christian Bale in a Trains, Planes, and Automobiles remake. He plays a business *****e who runs into John Lovitiz's character. I would love to see this scene with Bale....

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