MovieChat Forums > Harsh Times (2006) Discussion > 'Hey Dog!' Pathetic Bale

'Hey Dog!' Pathetic Bale


Terrible miscasting of this normally reliable actor. His attempts at being cool and streetwise were embarrassing. Saying "dog" and "man" to your co-star doesn't make you convincing and his attempts were horribly amateurish. Another thing that grates is the way he uses an American accent off camera too. I wonder if his fellow actors think he's an incredibly dedicated actor or a pretentious twat.

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where are u from? well he s a white boy from la, livin life gangster...whad do u expect him to say? I think he was amazing. one of his best performances.

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Well he did spend much of his childhood in America, so it isn't so strange for him to speak with an American accent.

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Although he's welsh and naturally speaks with a welsh accent.

I think he's dedicated and enjoy seeing him in a variety of roles.

When I watch him I dont end up thinking Im watching Bale (like I do with any Tom Cruise movie) he just becomes the charecter and gets on with it.

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he doesn't have a welsh accent, it's english, he was just born in wales.

but anyway, him saying "dog" and stuff isn't unrealistic.. there are a lot of white guys like this in the US (and probably elsewhere in the world). i guess you just haven't met one yet.

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[deleted]

I havent seen BOTFOJ but I have watched and enjoyed both Collateral and the last samurai, but I was very aware the whole time that I was watching Tom Cruise... which stops me immersing as deeply into the film.

Watch The Machinist and I totally forgot I was watching Bale, the same person who played Batman... he just totally transforms himself between performances.

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[deleted]

I like how the OP wont respond and say where he's from cause me being from LA and hearing people talk since I just graduated from HS last year this really IS how they talk down here. It may not be believable to you but the fact that you don't even live in around that area pretty much means you don't know s h it. Take my word for it Christian Bale was on key with his acting.

Also the fact that you said "being cool and streetwise" clearly means you're a fgt. troll.

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>>Also the fact that you said "being cool and streetwise" clearly means you're a fgt. troll.

Thats some funny ish. I also thought it was OTT, like someone trying to spoof wiggers, LOL, but I live in the UK so I wouldnt know. I work witha lot of NY emcees, and none of them sound like that, so dont know if its an LA thing.

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[deleted]

I didn't think he was miscast I just think the dialogue coach didn't pace it right. When they were in Toussant's apartment that conversation flowed naturally. The entire movie should have been like that. Christian Bale was at his best when Jim was freakin out and going nuts. He was on point then.

crimson & clover over & over

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you didn't get it then, Jim was being sarcastic

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His behaviour is sometimes erratic.

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[deleted]

His way of speaking in this film sounds forced. But i think that was the whole idea. I know plenty of white guys who talk like this and it just doesn't sound natural. IMO Bale did a great job.

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i agree with the above poster, i liked the acting but the dialog from all three sounded contrived and awkward. there must be some meaning to it, i just didnt get it. i started to think the setting was early 90's by the slang and hearing nwa and mc breed, but its clear it was present day.
i did enjoy the film alot though.

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actually i think the point was to show what an ass the character is. there's nothing 'cool' about him. Saying 'dog' etc, just emphasizes what a ridiculous person his character is. there are lots of white guys that act this way and they are just as dumb

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It did sound weird but I am from the UK - the only person who talks like that over here is Tim Westwood and he is a tw*t!

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haha, damn right. Dave The Ruf siad it pretty clearly!

myspace.com/bankrupteuropeans

Coz lifes too short to listen to Madlib

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Before anything i just want to say, Bale is my favorite actor and i truly believe he is the most talented actor of today.

but i know where your coming from when you talk about his accent, cause i thought the same for a while, but Bale knows exactly what hes doing, he meant it to sound exactly like he portrayed, his accent is meant to emphasize the nature of his character, which is basically a white guy who acts as black as he can to pull off being cool, when underneath he is insecure. Longorias character knows this and knows he puts on this whole fake image, which is why she doesnt like him.

it was perfect casting and a brilliant performance from Bale, the film is outstanding.

MARKED!

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there is nothing black about chistian bales character, hes a white guy who grew up in a mexican neighboorhood, saying dog doesent make you black

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this is crazy .. he's supposed to sound like that and he did a good job

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exactly . his dialect was distinctly from mexican american neighborhood , specifically where they filmed the movie , just east of central los angeles , nor was he a gangster , the cop knew him and his friend , they all grew up together.

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Big deal. As if he wouldn't pick up an American accent in the States. After a term in Quebec, I couldn't even speak English without a French accent, and I'm not even an actor, gifted or otherwise.

I'm sorry the Coen brothers don't direct the porn I watch. They're hard to get ahold of, okay?

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Well he wasn't acting black, he was acting like a Mexican. This movie takes place in LA, EAST LA at that, which has more Mexicans than say, Mexico. Growing up in that environment would cause Bale's character to act and talk the way he does, and if you have ever been around someone who pretends to be someone else, aka a wigger, or that one kid who swears his grandma is hispanic, you know they sound pretentious and like idiots. If it came off as stupid to you, odds are, it was probably meant to be that way, because he doesn't talk that way when he gets overly frustrated or when he is talking to authority figures. Only when he is around his boys does he act the way he does. He is a product of his environment, and those who can't see that should worry more about culturing themselves or just getting in touch with the real world then talking out of their ass on a message board.

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Remember the white guy in American Me? He pulled it off. Bale did not.

"They shoot horses, don't they?" RIP Sydney Pollack

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