Réalisation:
David AyerScénario:
David AyerPhotographie:
Steve MasonMusique:
Graeme RevellActeurs·trices:
Christian Bale, Freddy Rodríguez, Eva Longoria, Terry Crews, Tania Verafield, Noel Gugliemi, Emilio Rivera, J.K. Simmons, Samantha Esteban (plus)VOD (1)
Résumés(1)
Vétéran de la Guerre du Golfe, Jim Davis (Christian Bale) a été profondément marqué par l'horreur des combats. A bout de ressources, il attend d'être appelé au sein de la police de Los Angeles, où un poste lui avait été promis. Si seulement il avait un boulot, il retrouverait son équilibre et sa vie aurait à nouveau un sens. Jim n'a qu'un seul réconfort au milieu de cette galère : son meilleur copain, Mike (Freddy Rodríguez), également chômeur. Jim offre à Mike de l'aider à trouver un job, mais leur quête prend rapidement des allures de virée infernale dans les rues chaudes de South Central. Après avoir vu se refermer devant lui les portes du L.A.P.D., Jim accepte de travailler pour les services de la Sécurité du territoire. Ses virées avec Jim dans les bas quartiers deviennent de plus en plus violentes et dramatiques. Une nouvelle guerre commence... (Belga Films)
(plus)Critiques (9)
La force d’une amitié entre deux hommes, entre deux glandeurs qui passent leurs journées à faire des tours en ville dans leur voiture, à fumer de l’herbe, à picoler, à foutre le boxon. L’un est vétéran atteint de traumatismes de guerre et est confronté à des problèmes de drogue. L’autre est constamment à la recherche d’un emploi en essayant de répondre aux attentes ambitieuses de sa copine. Je m’attendais à tout autre chose ; je n’avais pas lu le résumé et m’imaginais plutôt un film policier musclé. À la place, on a affaire à un drame cru avec des éléments psychologiques. Christian Bale ne peut plus m’étonner. Les personnages détraqués, bizarres et compliqués lui sont prédestinés. Et Rodriguez, son comparse, se défend bien lui aussi. Dans l’ombre de Gabriella Solis, Eva Longoria ne parviendra probablement jamais à s’affirmer à la façon de la grande majorité des stars en série et, pour ne rien arranger, elle n’a pas eu beaucoup de latitude dans ce film-ci. Harsh Times est maigre en action et les choses se passent au compte-gouttes. C’est que la moitié du temps, on se trouve dans l’auto, en compagnie du duo central quand celui-ci est sous l’influence de l’alcool ou de la marijuana, ou bien dans la maison de leurs « potes » de la pègre. La deuxième moitié du film est régie par la violence, les injures, les blagues et l’action. La manière dont la deuxième moitié est filmée est plus réussie, surtout dans la séquence où le personnage de Christian Bale a ses « moments sombres » et qu’il n’arrive pas à faire la distinction entre réalité et hallucinations. Même chose dans la scène finale de la fusillade. Harsh Times est sans conteste un film hors du commun et qui vaut le déplacement.
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Ayer's attempt to be rough, impactful, and vulgar at all costs perhaps works initially. Then Bale’s style, however perfectly acted, in which he tries to emulate the style of Mexican gangsters, becomes significantly irritating. The problem stems from the director/writer, whose mix of street gangster and personal testimony of a war-scarred veteran shatters into an obnoxiously chatty and overwrought routine. Hands off this one, you'll have much more fun playing "GTA: San Andreas." It’s on the same level in terms of ideas and yet you'll be in the thick of it at will, not for an annoying two hours.
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I haven’t seen such a good move about nothing for a long time. Christian Bale’s Jim Davis is the best played, most unpleasant character of the past few years. He could probably manage to pull off a three-hour gaze into the mirror with style. His interpretation of the mental sale of this unstable, dumb, aggressive brute is an unforgettable experience. I believe there are countless people like that around. I have the misfortune to know one myself. Just a shame that the role played in this movie by my favorite, Freddy Rodriguez, didn’t suit him one little bit. Also the movie could easily have been a little shorter. But thank god for Bale - his incredible skill moved the entire movie along wonderfully...
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Harsh Times has a huge advantage in its main character, who has such potential that it is a pity that an eight-part series did not come into being, which would further develop the story of the main character and his twisted motivation and fulfill the genre's possibilities. The problem is that the viewer is enticed by interesting characters and feels that a great crime drama is unfolding, only to find out that instead of a suspenseful crime story, they are watching a psychological drama with an ambiguous and unfinished ending. In this case, the main character's journey toward self-destruction is more important than the point and plot. Armed forces, from the police to the army and various private security services, will try to convince you of the perfection of their methods of recruiting new members and that failures are rare. However, here you can see the completely believable rise of a unique psychopath and his successful infiltration into the police force. Jim Davis is a completely realistic villain, whose motivations and actions you tend to believe in, especially when played by the professional Christian Bale. Overall impression: 75%.
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An excellent drama that got right to me. A fundamental role in this is played by Christian Bale who, scene after scene, constructs the complex and mentally unstable character of former ranger, Jim Davis. He can be a nice guy who you would risk anything for, but at the same time he can be uncompromising swine who would sell his own grandmother, while retaining his credibility. Ayer did a good job directing and, apart from the rather slow beginning, I have no complaints. And also Freddy Rodriguez was a huge surprise, managing to keep step with Bale, which deserves praise. As for the screenplay, its strongest weapon is atmosphere and a sarcastic view on the world. It simply sucks you in. A perfect story from L.A.’s underworld.
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Too shallow. Over time, the constantly pissed off and off the rails expression of Christian Bale will start to irritate you just like his problems in the film – he starts and doesn't even really know why. Harsh Times is indeed intense, but it has nothing to offer in terms of plot. The overwhelming majority of things are there for effect and it doesn't get under your skin. That is, assuming you have seen a thing or two and a high concentration of fucks and the raw feeling of a big city's periphery are not something that would impress you.
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The story itself isn't great, and Ayer's direction isn't exactly bursting with ideas and character, but the film has one huge plus that elevates it from the grey of mediocrity, and that’s Christian Bale, of course. Something evil and mysterious lurks in his eyes, which from the very first moments will unsettle you and help you immerse in the otherwise bland plot. And Ayer manages to dose all that evil in the span of 110 minutes in such a way as to make everyone sit on their asses and watch. If you don't expect anything groundbreaking, harsh or deep in thought, you'll have a great time.
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Disappointment. After Ayer's perfect Street Kings, I was expecting another LA street hell, but I wasn't able to get past the contrivance. Plus, I wasn't buying Bale's acting in this one, and his constant use of language from the motherfucker tribe seemed overdone. The graphic depiction of the loss of self-control is just extra too, and in general it's all rather abbreviated. Ayer simply didn't have a sure directorial hand yet.
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Christian Bale proves right from the beginning that he is a method actor and really immerses himself in the role. In this case, it means we are watching a genuinely unpleasant person who will irritate you from the beginning, and you'll hope that things end badly for him. And you might not care that his behavior could be partly attributed to the war. Jim's an asshole. No, this just isn't a movie I could like. Characters with whom it is impossible to identify. I like that the film goes its own way, but I didn't find my way to it. The story isn't even that interesting.
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