Harsh Times

2005

Action / Crime / Drama / Thriller

54
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 48% · 97 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Spilled 55% · 50K ratings
IMDb Rating 6.8/10 10 69896 69.9K

watching a movie prostitute post traumatic stress disorder post-traumatic stress disorder post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) drug use

Plot summary

Jim Davis is an ex-Army Ranger who finds himself slipping back into his old life of petty crime after a job offer from the LAPD evaporates. His best friend is pressured by his girlfriend Sylvia to find a job, but Jim is more interested in hanging out and making cash from small heists, while trying to get a law enforcement job so he can marry his Mexican girlfriend.

Director

David Ayer Photo
David Ayer

Top cast

J.K. Simmons Photo
J.K. Simmons as Agent Richards
Christian Bale Photo
Christian Bale as Jim Luther Davis
Terry Crews Photo
Terry Crews as Darrell
Eva Longoria Photo
Eva Longoria as Sylvia
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU
1.04 GB
1280*694
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles
23.976 fps
1 hr 56 min
Seeds 3
2.14 GB
1920*1040
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles
23.976 fps
1 hr 56 min
Seeds 16

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by Hey_Sweden 7 / 10

Worth seeing for Bales' performance.

Screenwriter David Ayer ("Training Day") debuts as director with this not uninteresting look at some troubled lives. The fact that the script is autobiographical does give it some impact, and overall the story is potent in the way that it chronicles one mans' downward spiral when it seems that fate is conspiring against him. The main character is based on men that Ayer knew, and while not all that sympathetic, he's a commanding presence, flaws and all. What helps a great deal is the acting by the talented Christian Bale (also one of the executive producers here), who's as incredible as ever completely immersing himself in a role. Well shot and fairly absorbing, the film doesn't have that much resonance when it's over but it would be hard not to feel *something*.Bale plays Jim Davis, a former Army Ranger who was very efficient at brutally dispatching the enemy. When he returns stateside, he drifts back into a life of petty crime, pot smoking, and general aimlessness. He's not totally unambitious, though; he does have aspirations of joining the LAPD. There is a problem, however: he's mentally unbalanced, and tends towards being irresponsible. His best friend Mike (Freddy Rodriguez) isn't much better off, willingly going along with Jim on his escapes despite the fact that he's promised to find employment to help out his girlfriend Sylvia (Eva Longoria).Bale is really the one that makes this a must-see, acting with his customary intensity and sense of commitment. Rodriguez is very good as well, offering a somewhat more rational- minded individual who runs into problems when he insists on being loyal to his friend. The cast of mostly unfamiliar faces does well; J.K. Simmons and Terry Crews are great as always in their small roles, and Tammy Trull is beautiful and appealing as the Mexican woman whom Jim intends to marry. Cinematographer Steve Mason gives this a very slick albeit fairly monochromatic look while Ayer mostly refrains from visual gimmicks until near the end. Graeme Revells' touching score is supplemented by an eclectic soundtrack.Fans of urban crime dramas should find this to be pretty entertaining.Seven out of 10.
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Reviewed by je_ff_09 8 / 10

Bad Acting?

People saying this is Bales worst performance obviously don't know anything about acting!

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