American Hustle

Bale and Adams

There are many things to say about the film "American Hustle" most all of them good but the the most important one as far as I'm concerned has to do with the fact that Christian Bale gives a performance that you cannot take your eyes off of. I mean everyone is amazing. Everyone give a kick ass performance but why was I intensely drawn to this portrayal of a middle aged, beer belly having insane comb over creating character? I wonder if a woman could get away with this.

There is not one iota of Bale in this man or should I say there is not one iota of who we think Bale is in this character. When we say that actors disappear into their roles, maybe what's really happening is that they're just showing up more presently in isolated behaviors which best illustrate the character they are playing. If that's the case, then Bale is all gone in this character. He finds the physicality, the cadence and most of all a core, a soul in this character and he works from there, keeping it alive always. He does not do what is easy ever. He never has and for the most part it pays off big time.

This almost made me want to watch the last of the "Batman: Dark Knight" films of which I am not at all a fan. I've been very ambivalent about watching Bale on screen because his intensity is sometimes a bit much for me to stomach. I have to wonder why he gives himself up so completely. "American Psycho" for instance, made me think he was truly psychotic. "Laurel Canyon" gave me a little pause but only because it was a film about the complexities of relationship which made his performance easier for me to take.

I don't think I'll ever be able to watch him in "The Machinist" where he intentionally lost so much weight he looks like a holocaust survivor. Well never say never but no time soon.

In any case, after watching "American Hustle, I will never sleep on Bale again.

...he still kinda freaks me out though. LOL!