MovieChat Forums > Rescue Dawn (2007) Discussion > Steve Zahn is a better actor than Christ...

Steve Zahn is a better actor than Christian Bale! PERIOD


Steve Zahn was so good in this movie, playing a soldier in shellshock and the fear in his eyes was so believable. On the other hand Christian Bale's character didn't do it for me, he wasn't realistic at all and lacked the appropriate emotional responses. He's just a bad actor in my opinion. It's almost like he rushes his performances because he can't wait until the movie is over so he can cash in his check.

It's a shame that actors like Steve Zahn aren't offered better roles and then there are actors like Christian Bale who gets leading roles like 'Batman' and 'John Connor' because of his chizzled appearance. He doesn't deserve his celebrity, he treats his own mother like dirt and downgrades movie crews for not doing their job right, pfff he's the one who can't act and has no soul. Simply put - I hate Christian Bale and you should too!

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You should better start with this hate thing you have. The rest is not relevant;))

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what? they are both good, and saying Bale is just doing it for the money is just plain stupid. he's been great in most of the movies he's in, The Machinist for example and he did all that just for quick cash??? i think he's one of the few "stars" right now that has some soul.

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Why do so many people put period after their statement? Why not just: Steve Zahn is a better actor than Christian Bale.

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Because they are uncertain about what they write.

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Ok, you don't like Bale because of his recent outburst on the T4 set. Understandable. He needs to lay off the steroids (I assume that's what caused his insane tirade).

But you're wrong about his acting ability. Bale can be an excellent actor. For me, Empire of the Sun is still his best performance. I've yet to see a better performance from a child actor. If you haven't seen it, check it out immediately.

And if that doesn't impress you, just look at some of the directors who have hired him over the years:

Steven Spielberg;
Werner Herzog;
Christopher Nolan;
Terrence Malick;

Those are some of the biggest names in filmmaking. They're all wrong, are they?

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Treats his own mother like dirt


I like Christian Bale and sure Steve Zahn does deserve better roles, but Bale doesn't treat his mother like dirt. It's the other way around. His mother goes begging him for money and when he refuses to give her any, she talks about his wife. She deserved what came to her, even if it was just a yelling. I think Bale is a great actor, which is why he gets these roles. Don't tell us to hate Bale for your own reasons, we should decide who to like for ourselves.

"And that birthday wish is malarkey. Malarkey!"

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Christian Bale doesn't do anything for me. I've always found him to be overrated myself.

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Thanks Smoke117, at least I have someone to help defend me from the pitch-forks...lol

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A genius will always has his haters,otherwise why he would be call a genius? Bale is a genius to me and to all of his fans. Love live Bale!

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[deleted]

I think the important thing is "WHY DOESN'T STEVE ZAHN GET BETTER ROLES?!?!" I have no idea who's better because Zahn hasn't had the opportunities that Bale has.



"Weirdness was all he cared about. Weirdness and sex and plenty to drink."

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Come on! Bale is one of the greater actors of this generation, Empire of the Sun, Harsh Times, Prestige, Machinist, American Psycho and the more will keep coming. Not to take anything away from Steven Zahn, I love that man and he is in the same league. He is a great actor, comedy or drama nails it every time.

These guys will continue to churn out great movies.

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[deleted]

I hated Bale's voice in Batman, I mean what was auditioning for a 900 number sex service? LOL

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blame Nolan because Batman's voice is manufactured!

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Not to take anything away from Steven Zahn, I love that man and he is in the same league. He is a great actor, comedy or drama nails it every time.


I'm watching "Rescue Dawn" right now. I wish Zahn would get more chances to show his stuff in dramatic roles. I've loved him ever since I saw him in "Shattered Glass".




But I shall stay the way I am,
Because I do not give a damn.

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Yeah, Zahn is great and underrated, or at least not as appreciated because he isn't movie-star handsome. But Bale is great too.

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Of course Steve Zahn's character is more depressed. He was supposed to act that wat. He has been there for more than a year! He has suffered more, and probably lost all sense of hope.

Christian Bale's character has just arrived there. He probably still think that the air force is going to rescue him and his plan. His "shell-shock" moment probably hasn't come yet. He was still this optimistic young pilot who had a plan which lucky for him, it worked.

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I also think that Steve Zahn's performance was very strong, I found Duane to be a more touching character than Dengler. This is partly, of course, because Duane was simply the more emotional character.

He displayed weakness, and in some scenes a childish helplessness that personally I found easier to identify with than Denglers toughness. Duane wouldn't have lasted long if he'd been on his own, if I was in that situation, I'd sit down somewhere in that jungle and die. Without someone like Dengler to lead, to make decisions, to drive me on.

I did like Dengler too and I do think his acting was good. But Duane was the one I could identify with. And he freaked me out in the scene where he's attacked, the look of agony on his face, god...

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