Is it me, or does Christain Bale have no acting Range?

[Batman FREAK]

I think exactly the opposite really. His performances have shown GREAT range as an actor. He just happens to have a niche for certain roles. Most actors have that at some point in their career.

But yeah he could pull off about anything if given the chance. He's very dedicated to whatever role he takes for sure.

 

[TheBatman072]

It's just you.

 

[DangerousInc.]

Thank you. What does his roles outside of Batman have to do with, well, Batman?! I think he's a fine actor but regardless, all I care about is that he nails Bruce Wayne/Batman and he has done that. His roles outside of Batman is irrelevant.

NP.

Look I understand people get bored waiting for new news but somethings are just silly sometimes.

 

[Steelsheen]

Well I've nearly noticed all the characters Chrstian Bales has played, are in the same exact mold, Psychologically troubled individuals. Hes never played anything else really, and its kind of getting rather curious. Makes you wonder if he can portray different characters, can he do more comedic roles, can he play a geekish character, can he play a sensitive character, and etc? I mean at this point, its obvious while hes a good actor, he needs to expand his roles, as I think he can win an oscar, he just needs to show the academy something different then the mentally troubled indivudual, hes been playing in alot of his movies.

Bale likes psychologically troubled characters. he's like a moth to a flame with that. but to use that simply as a basis that he has no range is ridiculous. you're equating him with Keanu Reeves.

prior to American Psycho, Bale was about to be typcast as a "good guy" actor and nothing more. it frustrated him. that's why he goes for "risky" roles and movies. its ironic how your basis for lack of range are projects he's been working on to break his "good guy" mold.

 

[Ecstasy]

Look at that massive posting rampage by the TS on the first page.

Either way, I'd like to see him in new roles as well.

 

[DangerousInc.]

I dont think it matters. Im more worried about what Joker looks like.

 

[Batman jr.]

Question to the OP: which actors that you think have a huge acting range ?

Not all of them are like Gary Oldman, who is indeed totally different in each role.

But please, name us some actors. I'm curious.

 

[batmaluco]

she was amazing in Monsters Ball dude, You will find very few critics or people who disagree with that.

I know it's OT, and to be honest, I didn't see that one. But it was just an example, and I was judging from her other movies.

Maybe I should have given the example of 'Titanic', praised by both critics and public, but for me it was just a huge pile of crap. At least at the time, I would find very few people that would agree with that.

 

[Keyser Soze]

You know, people have said that Pacino, DeNiro and Nicholson have no range too.

Yes, Christian Bale has played a lot of psychologically toubled characters. But you can't watch "American Psycho" and "The Machinist" and tell me his two performances are exactly the same. He's a hugely talented actor, one of the best of his generation, and no, I'm not biased. I would have told you that before he got cast in "Batman Begins".

 

[ultimatefan]

Wanna see his range, see him in American Psycho and then in Reign of Fire, where his character is almost the exact opposite. Or in The Machinist, where his character is an ultimately nice but seriously screwed up guy.

 

[CConn]

His characters in American Psycho, Equilibrium, Batman Begins, The Machinist, and The Prestige are all very similar. At their art, they're all men who suffer from definite and almost-overwhelming emotional...void. They all, at some point, to some extent, can't feel.

Patrick Bateman was a soulless yuppie who used murder and mayhem to feel something, anything, emotionally.

John Preston, obviously, had all of his emotions quilled by futuristic drugs.

Bruce Wayne in BB suffered years of emotional confusion and empathy after the death of his parents. It probably wasn't until the end scene with Rachel that Bruce finally rediscovered some actual feelings besides a need for justice.

Trevor Reznik was someone who's intense guilt totally shut down all his senses. Almost removed all of his humanity for an entire year. Throughout the entire film, the character was basically walking through a fog of conscienceless; never happy, never really sad, just...there.

Alfred Borden was, of course, a man split in two. A man who half the time felt nothing towards his family, and the other half of the time, felt nothing towards his mistress. The only thing that really united him was soulless obsession.

So yeah, while the characters may be different, as an actor, you really can approach them all from the same viewpoint. They all feature the same psychological and emotional theme. In that they're all united and all very similar.

I'm not at all saying he's a bad actor (as Keyser mentioned, some of the best actors of this generation have little range), but it's obviously he's not at all a Johnny Depp type that can go from Edward Scissorhands to Ed Wood to Jack Sparrow, and back again.

 

[The Last Meatbag]

You're a dumbass.

And yes, only you think that.

End of story.

 

[Fenrir]

People on this forum really need to watch The New World. Bale also did a great job as a class A ******** in Shaft - another one of his roles that is different from what we're used to seeing him in. And I'm pretty sure his character in 3:10 to Yuma is quite a departure from his usual choice of roles.

 

[The Last Meatbag]

He does have range, I mean...look at his character in Laurel Canyon, is that ANYTHING like Pat Bateman?

What about his role in Velvet Goldmine? Is that anything like his character in Harsh Times?

What about All the Little Animals? Is that anything like his role in Equilibrium?


I could go on..but I won't..he has range, he's on par with Johnny Depp when it comes to becoming the character, he's a master of it.

 

[Golyadkin]

American Psycho

It's all in one film.

Watch it again. Every scene is brilliant acting...

 

[L3G3NDK1LLER]

Yea, its just you. Bale is an amazing actor. i did my senior project on him, and his is not only the most dedicated actor around, but the most talented. He brings a great performance in every movie he is in. Anyone who has seen Batman begins,the Prestige, or The machinist should agree.

 

[LostSon88]

Alfred Borden in The Prestige: http://youtube.com/watch?v=isjiQytw6ek
Patrick Bateman in American Psycho: http://youtube.com/watch?v=HB6R56IoMYk
Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Vx6vOR9LtRk

No range?

 

[rashad]

Ah...It's you. Good day sir.

 

[Jerry!]

Yeah to say that his parts in American Psycho, BB and Prestige are similar is right and wrong. Its wrong to say that it shows that Bale has limited range. They are all completely different parts. In the Prestige he has to play two completely different characters, that alone should tell you how much range Bale has.

The similarity that those 3 movies, and Equillibrium as well, have is that they each showcase how much range Bale has. Bateman, Wayne, and Borden all have a duality in their roles that are opposite from each other that Bale has to embody and does so in each case perfectly. In Equillibrium, he has to slowly change as the movie progresses.

 

[gazi]

Well I've nearly noticed all the characters Chrstian Bales has played, are in the same exact mold, Psychologically troubled individuals. Hes never played anything else really, and its kind of getting rather curious./QUOTE]

He's Been a Great Actor since he was a kid.​

 

[Batman jr.]

He's a better actor than Michael Keaton

 

[DocLathropBrown]

He's got range, not that the script for Batman Begins gave him room to really craft any depth for the character with its "Batman for dummies" approach.

He's not as good as Michael Keaton, but then, who is? And my opinions of Michael Keaton and Christian Bale are independant of the two being Batmen. I just so happen to also think Keaton's the superior Batman, not that Bale can't be just as good, mind you, but you'd have to get a new director and new writer.

And if anybody tries to say my opinion is wrong, they really must stop talking. It's bad for the human race.

 

[batmaluco]

From Jesus to Batman, isn't this enough range?

 

[DocLathropBrown]

But the question is... was he any GOOD as Jesus?

It's not enough to play diverse roles... you have to be good at them.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

He's got range, not that the script for Batman Begins gave him room to really craft any depth for the character with its "Batman for dummies" approach.

He's not as good as Michael Keaton, but then, who is? And my opinions of Michael Keaton and Christian Bale are independant of the two being Batmen. I just so happen to also think Keaton's the superior Batman, not that Bale can't be just as good, mind you, but you'd have to get a new director and new writer.

And if anybody tries to say my opinion is wrong, they really must stop talking. It's bad for the human race.

Is Michael Keaton still around? I'm asking sincerely. I can't remember the last time I've seen him in a movie.