David Ayer's newest film, "Harsh Times," provides the perfect setting for a film certain to reaffirm anyone's masculinity: Blood, guts and guns line the L.A. underworld, luring ex-Army Ranger, Jim Davis (played by Christian Bale) into its unrelenting grasp. Unfortunately, the plotline boiling over with testosterone might be somewhat engaging if the acting wasn't so poor, making every character seem like a ploy and every emotion or experience feel forced.
Jim Davis, a product of the U.S. Army, attempts to assimilate back into Los Angeles society, ironically through applying to join the LAPD. However, after his rejection from the program, Davis finds himself out on the streets immersed in the ever-so-familiar whirlwind of drugs, alcohol and violence, dragging his best friend, Mike Alonzo (Freddy Rodriguez), along for the ride.
Mike only has one positive influence in his life: his girlfriend Sylvia (Eva Longoria). In a grand moment of good judgment, Mike decides that instead of looking for a job to salvage his relationship - not to mention his dignity - he'll drive around town with his buddy Jim risking not only a criminal record, but also his life.
"Harsh Times"'s "macho" film status wavers only through its portrayal of women throughout the film. Jim is involved with a woman in Mexico, and his desire to marry her and bring her back to the States fuels his drive to get a stable job in order for INS to allow him to carry out his plans. On his way to finally achieving a better life for himself, he is tripped up by the temptations of his violent past, careening into a life that will only lead to further destruction.
Sylvia also is Mike's only stable force and encourages him to pursue a career and make a life for himself. Instead, she watches as his best friend, whom she despises, strips him of his positive, sensitive qualities and instead creates an irresponsible idiot, his "boy."
One of the worst aspects of the film is the forced "macho" quality of the male interactions. All the booze, drugs, sex and vulgarity are over-the-top and the friendship between Jim and Mike, the focus of the film, therefore appears insincere. This renders the general basis of the plotline disengaging and laughable.
Jim Davis is a character you hate to hate. As an ex-soldier, his violent psychology is understandable, and his heartening interactions with Mike are reminiscent of a deep but almost boyish friendship. However, despite his attempts at positive change, his anger is unavoidable, and his psychotic tendencies are undeniable. It seems that the character could be much stronger if portrayed by a different actor.
Christian Bale, although improving toward the climax at the end, frankly fails to deliver a believable tough, lewd, hard-hearted gangster. His interactions with the individuals surrounding him appear forced. While he is portrayed to be the outsider in the Chicano society, his discomfort in the role is far from intentional. At least in the last half hour of the film, Bale successfully delivers a disturbing performance, exposing the ex-Ranger's humanity through the lead-up to his breaking point.
Freddy Rodriguez, known from his role as Federico Diaz in "Six Feet Under," on the other hand, provides a solid performance. In the end, the film turns out to be more a story of Mike's experience and relationship with Jim rather than the other way around, so one would think that a strong performance from Rodriguez would be able to carry the film. However, the film, centered on the friendship and Bale's participation, prevented a certain measure of believability.
"Harsh Times" definitely fits in with writer/director David Ayer's past films. He has got the masculine film genre covered, writing about everything from the submarines in "U-571" (2000) to cops in "Training Day" (2001). Concerning the film's direction, "Harsh Times" is decent. Flashbacks from Davis's military past are woven into the storyline, contributing to a very visual downfall of the main character.
From a writing perspective, it is hard to tell whether Bale delivered the lines poorly or if they were just poorly written. However, the emotional plot is engaging and seems to come from a genuine understanding of the circumstances in play.
Through plot and circumstance, "Harsh Times" seems like it could have potential, but unfortunately, Bale's poor performance and the film's overly masculine, macho feel make Ayer's newest endeavor less than appealing.
