okay. so I haven't been watching a whole lot of films lately, but every once in a while, something really good pops up.
I've just finished watching
Harsh Times, with Christian Bale and Freddy Rodriguez. holy crap. just a flat out nerve-racking experience.
Harsh Times is the type of film that very quickly sucks you into the flawed characters' lives, wanting so badly to influence their decisions and change their minds somehow, to help save them from themselves, to help keep them on their paths to getting their lives straightened out in the way they're so desperate to do. somehow, they can't help themselves though, and they keep making mistake after mistake, each one seemingly digging them deeper and deeper, even though they know what they're doing is wrong. you know the things they struggle with are going to have adverse effects, and you almost can't bear to watch, but somehow you do. this is the case with Harsh Times, anyway. seriously, I almost had to turn it off. I stopped it about 3/4 the way through, and had to walk away. it was too much. of course I had to come back like two minutes later to finish it, but I had to fast forward to the end first. I couldn't wait the 30 minutes to see how it was going to end!
Harsh Times was an insane ride the whole way through. disturbing, but a great film. I like pretty much anything Christian Bale does though, and Freddy Rodriguez is really good, too (Six Feet Under). I like that he [Christian Bale] portrays different characters, unlike someone like Tommy Lee Jones, who's pretty much just Tommy Lee Jones in every film he does; you know, same crusty tough as nails law enforcement type. Gary Oldman's another good example of a versatile actor, and he's so subtle and natural.
just watch it. you won't be disappointed if you're into films like Crash for the intensity.
btw, I saw
The Kingdom a few weeks ago in the theater. again. I don't know where they're getting this intensity, but man, there were some parts in that film that were hard to watch, too!