I really loved him in that scene where he tells his wife that he's tired of not being respected by anyone. It really made me feel for his character.
shareOh I love Christian Bale. But yeah, I found the film incredibly, and that part was one of the saddest/most moving. The only one who did respect him was his little boy :(
Edit: incredibly what, I don't know :P
Christian kicked all kinds of butt playing Dan Evans. Probably my favorite of all his characters.
shareI agree--his portrayal of the character was superb.
shareVan Heflin's Dan Evans was much better. Bale's Evans was a PC wuss who never would have survived a day in 1880's Arizona Territory. Heflin's was an average man who rises to the challenge of a hard task.
"It's a hard country, kid."
To me, Bale's character was the heart and soul of the movie. His performance is great because he shows the evolution of his character from being down and out to getting back his courage and respect in a dignified and quiet manner. And his performance truly fits the genre and the mold of a tough, Western man.
The things you own end up owning you.
weird why you wouldn't be a fan of his if you can appreciate this performance. this is by far not the best of his performances. perhaps average for him. he has much better ones. go see The Machinist for instance.
shareI watched this movie initially because I have always loved Russell Crowe, but after this movie I have watched it 3 more times because of Christian BAle's performance. He was robbed by not being nominated for an Oscar and winning it. I literally cry every time he says the line to his wife...I'm tired of how he (his son) looks at me and the way that you don't" and then once again at the end when he is literally saying good bye to his son before walking Ben Wade to the train.
"That Barney Rubble, what an actor!!" -Night Shift