MovieChat Forums > Harsh Times (2006) Discussion > How can people think this is a good movi...

How can people think this is a good movie?

posted 15 years ago by FittyBone
38 replies | jump to latest

I'm not a troll and I'm not trying to start any kind of flame war, but I really don't get it. This story was muddled and the characters were poorly developed and seemingly caricaturized. Rarely have I gone into a movie and felt NOTHING for the main characters. Bale (whom I usually love) was over the top in more ways than Sly Stallone could ever dream, Freddy Rodriguez was mildly sympathetic, and the rest of the cast felt forced and awkward.
I saw this in theaters with two friends and an empty house behind us. The most dramatic moments in the movie elicited nothing more than laughter, and "pistos" has since become a joke when referring to beer. As a comedy, this movie is mediocre, and as a drama, it's a step above (I've been trying to think of an awful drama for 10 minutes and I can't; don't judge).

Someone either tell me what I'm not getting or tell me I'm not crazy.

"When devils will the blackest sins put on,
They do suggest at first with heavenly shows."

[–] bmi2677 15 years ago

I will have to tell you that you're not crazy. I didn't dislike it as much as yourself, but I did think Bale was a bit over-the-top and it just didn't really hold my attention. I gave it a six because I was glad Jim got what he deserved at the end.

_______________________________________
The Dude Abides

[–] FactUnderChecK 15 years ago

your not getting the characters. if you can, watch it again. because it is quite an emotional film,
Your not crazy, you just dont know that christian bale actually had his character down to a T.

from people i know who have seen this and from what i read on this board this movie resounds with people who have a friend or know someone like bale's character.

[–] Starvenus 14 years ago

I'm with sltcs6010 on the acting. Until you get the opportunity to know someone suffering with severe-PTSd, IMHO you won't be able to truly appreciate this film.

Loving & living with a (2 tour, 3 years deployed) OIF veteran diagnosed with severe-PTSd made this film hit home with me. (It also made me keep small arms out the home and his vehicle, having been on eerily similar nightmarish outings.)

Yes the best-friend seemed sympathetic, and their associates behavior appear forced & uncomfortable. It's actually how people react around a "triggered" person.

[–] freakytall 14 years ago

Wow I'm sorry to hear for your loved one about the PTSD.

I'm maybe a year or 2 shy of Bale's age in this movie so maybe that's how I related to it so well. I have a couple friends who have been to Iraq but, nothing serious I don't think (yes Marines infantry too) LUCKILLY.

Maybe because I have a few friends with related drug problems it was easy to relate? I honestly know or knew people who are probably doing things like they did in this movie maybe tomorrow or sometime this month. I don't really associate myself anymore, but in my teenage years it was "cool". Beside from killing people / threatening with guns.

These guys definitely didn't grow up. But they were on their way.

[–] sato_caracal 15 years ago

I didn't think this was an EXCELENT movie, but I liked it and felt for the characters.
I think it really is a matter of 'to each its own'.
In the end you seem to be the one calling others crazy though, with that title. Like people can't really think this is a good movie, just because you don't. At least that's the feeling I got with it.
But well, you don't really have to like this movie and it's cool that there's still people out there in these boards who throw out their opinion without the purpose of trolling and annoying other people.
Peace.

[–] PurpleNiobe 15 years ago

You’re not crazy if you didn’t like the film. This film seems to be hit or miss for many (and I’ll even acknowledge maybe mostly miss). People seem to either like it a lot or find it terribly boring. I personally enjoyed the film and disagree with your points. For example:

I’ve often heard people say that Bale was over the top, but I thought that was the point. Jim in my opinion seemed to be some silly young man trying to be someone he’s not. It almost gets to the point where you don’t really know who he is because he’s gangsta one minute, a romantic man ready to whisk his young bride away and live happily ever after the next, and then finally supper official military man.

Both Jim and Mike seem to have the capabilities to obtain good careers and live happily but seemed hell bent on screwing around and acting like stupid teenagers, and it ended up turning out bad for them.

It did run slow in the beginning, and if I had walked into the theater and saw that cop that had pulled them over and his God awful acting I might’ve walked right out. But I saw it as a character study, so I guess it worked for me.

When the hurly-burly's done. When the battle's lost and won.

[–] Esmacious 15 years ago

I’ve often heard people say that Bale was over the top, but I thought that was the point.

I agree. Jim has spent 6 years in the army, slicing up the Taliban in Afghanistan, it's no wonder he's a bit twitchy. And his military persona is a million miles from his real self so he has trouble easing back into civilian life - particularly as he was a teenager when he joined the army.

In the early scenes with Eva Longoria, Bale acts awkward because the situation is awkward - Sylvia knows what a nutter Jim is and what a strong influence he is on Mike, and Jim is fully aware of how much she can't stand him.

I think the direction - especially the camera angles in the early scenes in the car where we're looking up at their faces as they chug another pisto - is slightly awry here. That's what IMHO makes Mike and Jim look like caricatures at some points rather than the acting as such.

I actually thought the cop wasn't that bad - he was supposed to be an idiot after all, hence their reluctance to party with him.

If the first half an hour had been better or pacier it would be a truly amazing film. As it is, it's a pretty darn good one.

[–] mastholte 15 years ago

If the first half an hour had been better or pacier it would be a truly amazing film. As it is, it's a pretty darn good one.

can't agree ;) I watched the first 16 minutes and had to press stop, because I was head over heels and had to accomodate ;) ah, sweet memories...

[–] Esmacious 15 years ago

I was head over heels and had to accomodate ;)

well that's certainly one way of putting it...

[–] FittyBone 15 years ago

Why don't you go ahead and blow me?
The plot wasn't over my head, it just sucked. Also, I wasn't looking for a lovable protagonist, just one that made some sense, and had some semi-decent dialogue.

"When devils will the blackest sins put on,
They do suggest at first with heavenly shows."

[–] lisaatucla 15 years ago

it's a ride along film, more for the experience of going along for the ride.

I just saw it this week and was pleasantly surprised. I had resisted watching it bc I thought it was another cop movie. lol

[–] bthr 15 years ago

because they saw the dark knight first.

[–] FactUnderChecK 15 years ago

i had not seen TDK before i saw this.

[–] BobLoblaws_LawBlog 15 years ago

The reason I liked this film so much is simply because Christian Bale astonished me by showing his true diverse acting ability by playing a role like this and making it look completely natural.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] FactUnderChecK 14 years ago

For the most part, most people (IMDb users) seem unable to distinguish between their opinion and intelligent comments.
haha no i joke... sort of.
its ok if you dont like this movie, its not like every movie has been made to please your taste. but why must your try and validate your opinion by saying totally generic things like it had clumsy execution, which it did not. it is a well crafted character driven story. opposed to a movie like 'drag me to hell' which is infact poorly executed.
not liking it is a valid enough reason to not like something.
however, what we can determine from a glance over your board history is that you have trouble enjoying movies which you percieve to be enjoyed by others before you (in general), something of an automatic non-conformist.

in my opinion this is bales best performance, yes better than patrick bateman. why? not because his performance was weak in american pyscho, but this is a character reacting in situations alot of people (me anyway) can relate to, its very authentic.
haha what can i say, i guess you didnt connect with the characters. and thats not to say you should have, like you werent smart enough to 'get' this movie or whatever. but saying this movie is clumsy in execution to validate your dislike? this movie was executed to a T

[–] mastholte 14 years ago

Well said, sltcs6010!!

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] FactUnderChecK 14 years ago

what ever you say, monsterplop :)

[–] CptHowdy87 14 years ago

I'm happy for you that you can enjoy all of the popular garbage, designed specifically to tick certain boxes, that the more sophisticated among us can see right through.

Sophisticated? someone sophisticated could have made ONE SINGLE descriptive gripe instead of throwing around useless terms like "garbage" and "terrible". You haven't gone into a modicum of detail as to what you didn't like and WHY you didn't like anything about this film and you expect people to think you're sophisticated? LMAO!!! you're a fcking joke and no wonder no-one takes anything you say seriously.

[–] freakytall 14 years ago

are you following me or am I following you?

[–] CptHowdy87 14 years ago

Were you addressing me?

[–] sandifay62 14 years ago

I don't think there's any problems with the movie, just problems with the concept of people having different opinions and liking different things. Every movie doesn't please or reach everybody. That's just the way it is. It just so happens that this movie is fine for some people. Whatever the director, writer, and actors did worked for some people.

So...

"How can people think this is a good movie?"

We're allowed to. Freedom of choice, pursuit of happiness, etc.

[–] 14 years ago

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