Batman - Bale
 

I am not a huge fan of his, but he is talented :cool:

The new guy in 'Batman'

Christian Bale: 'I never had a desire to be well known'

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Leave it to fringe actor Christian Bale to play a superhero on the fringe.

Bale -- who shot to child stardom in Steven Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun" then moved on to a grown-up career filled with menace and foreboding in such films as "American Psycho" and "The Machinist" -- now re-creates the comic-book dark knight with "Batman Begins."

He's no newcomer to big-budget movies -- breakout roles do not get much bigger than playing the lead in a Spielberg flick at 13. And Bale's credits include the apocalyptic dragon tale "Reign of Fire" and a role as a contemptuous killer in the update of "Shaft."

Yet Bale's general choices and his dislike of the spotlight have left him a cult figure who, at 31, finally is the central player in a behemoth Hollywood production.

"I never had a desire to be well known," Bale told The Associated Press. "There was never enormous ambition, so I think I managed to stay under the radar for most people in the public eye. And consequently, I find myself for many people being, 'Oh, he's this new guy in "Batman." ' I mean, I've been around for 20 years doing this."

For much of that time, Bale has focused on smaller, offbeat movies such as "Velvet Goldmine," "Metroland" and "Laurel Canyon."

In "American Psycho," Bale was a remorseless yuppie serial killer. In "The Machinist," he was a gaunt scarecrow suffering through a yearlong bout of insomnia.

Even his higher-profile films -- the musical "Newsies," the World War II dance tale "Swing Kids," the period dramas "Little Women" and "The Portrait of a Lady" -- clearly show Bale's tastes run somewhere south of mainstream.

"If I think a movie is going to make money, it's a surefire way that it's going to do nothing at the box office, and vice versa," Bale said. "I just don't quite get what people see in so many of the big blockbuster movies. They seem so simplistic, they seem so dumbed-down, that I can't see why I would want to pay nine bucks or whatever it is now for going to see that."

'I hated the publicity'
Born in Wales, Bale spent his early childhood globe-hopping with his family, living in California and Portugal for a time. He began his career in commercials, TV and stage roles in England before Spielberg cast him as a pampered British boy struggling to survive the Japanese occupation in China in "Empire of the Sun."

Though he worked regularly, following up with roles in Kenneth Branagh's "Henry V" and the lead in a TV version of "Treasure Island," Bale was not the typical child star.

"I hated the publicity I got from 'Empire of the Sun.' So I ran from it and I said, 'I like the acting, but I really don't want anything to do with the rest of it,' " Bale said. "To most people's eyes, I disappeared, but I pretty much worked once a year, even if it was on just a small role, because I did enjoy that."

He made a seamless transition to adult roles, avoiding the fate of so many child actors who wind up unable to find a place in show business after their youthful stardom waned.

"I was fortunate enough that I started off playing character roles. 'Empire of the Sun' is not your typical high school comedy. So I started off with nice adult roles," Bale said.

"Batman Begins" presents the early days of the DC Comics hero, offering a darker vision than the film series that began with Tim Burton's 1989 "Batman." Burton's two "Batman" movies and two other sequels restored much of the comic books' brooding tone to a character best known to many people as a comic figure from the 1960s TV show.

The new "Batman" presents billionaire Bruce Wayne torn between justice and vigilante vengeance years after witnessing his parents' murders. Bruce travels the globe to delve into the criminal mind and eventually finds a mentor (Liam Neeson) who hones the young man's mind and body for the task of fighting corruption.

Bruce returns to his native Gotham City, a cesspool of crime, where he becomes the phantomlike Batman, aided by his surrogate father, butler Alfred (Michael Caine), a childhood friend (Katie Holmes) now in the district attorney's office, a high-tech gadgetry whiz (Morgan Freeman), and a virtuous cop (Gary Oldman).

Aiming for gritty realism compared to the camp and style of earlier "Batman" incarnations, the filmmakers needed an actor who could credibly capture the fanaticism that would drive a man to cloak himself in a batsuit.

"What Christian has, he has this extreme level of self-discipline, of dedication and intensity, and you can see it in his eyes," director Christopher Nolan said. "It allows the audience to accept that this guy can transform himself into a superhero, which is a pretty extreme thing to ask an actor to convey."

Giving his all
Training for the role, Bale bulked up to 220 pounds. Only five months earlier, the 6-foot-2 Bale had weighed just 121 pounds after starving himself for "The Machinist," in which he played a man physically and mentally traumatized after a year without sleep.

He's now back in his usual range of 185 pounds, with no apparent health consequences.

"So far, I've felt absolutely nothing," Bale said. "When I was down there, obviously, I was very weak. I couldn't run or anything like that. Everything was very slow. I was in slow-mo. But I didn't actually feel bad. I felt very serene all the time. I felt very comfortable and calm.

"I felt bad when I was putting on weight for 'Batman.' That was a little too much strain on my heart, I believe. And that is the thing I will never repeat again, doing any of those extremes. If you're going to do it, take a bit more time about it. Don't rush those things, because your body just can't take that pressure."

After "Batman Begins," Bale filmed a supporting role in Colin Farrell's upcoming "The New World," director Terrence Malick's drama of 17th-century colonial America. Bale also shot the low-budget crime tale "Harsh Times" and provides the voice of the title character in the English-language version of the Japanese animated adventure "Howl's Moving Castle," opening just days before "Batman Begins."

Bale counts on the luster of "Batman Begins" to give him clout on independent movies he wants to do.

"If I can kill two birds with one stone by having made this movie, which I believe is a very good movie, then get to go and make smaller movies because 'Christian Bale' may mean something now, whereas it never meant anything before, then great," Bale said.

"Before, it was always the directors wanted me, but the financiers were saying, 'No way are you touching that guy.' Maybe they'll say, 'Yeah, wait, we'll touch him this time. We'll use him.' If I can help to get those movies made, then I'll feel like this was really a double whammy of success."


Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movi....ap/index.html

He's one of my all-time favorites, I think he's phenomenal and he's the sole reason I want to see the new Batman flick. He was a killer actor even as a child in Empire of the Sun. I couldn't believe it was even him when I saw The Machinist last year, my gawd.

The only movie I've ever seen him in was Newsies - which I love :laugh:

"Santa Fe! Are you there? Do you swear you won't forget me..." He was so cute :D

I posted that just for you - in an attempt to woooo you back from Sparky's overtures (358 indeed :mad: ) :laugh:

He was great in Empire of the Sun. I just did not like American Psycho too much because of the script, though his acting was great esp. when they were discussing the business cards.

He's incredible in Batman Begins.
I also love the fact that Christopher Nolan cast so many Brits (and Irish men) in a Hollywood blockbuster: Bale, Gary Oldman, Tom Wilkinson, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Cillian Murphy, Linus Roache.
Shame he slipped up with one of the only two Americans: Miss Wonky-mouth Holmes...

:laugh: I'm touched.

That scene was GREAT. :nod: I also loved the one where he killed Jared Leto, prancing around behind him before he swings his axe and lecturing him on how great Huey Lewis is. :laugh:

I didn't know Wilkinson was in it! I LOVE HIM! :blob1:

He got points just for pretending to kill Leto, bless his mostly untalented heart :laugh:

Yep, he's a crime boss in it. :nod:
But in a way he's too likeable for the part, old Tom.
Fab actor though.

What I want to see is a Bale/Leto sex scene. My pulse races just thinking about it. Leto is a little pretty for my tastes, but when he gets scruffy and kinda grungy looking, Lord Have Mercy.

:eek: Christian Bale AND Gary Oldman in the same movie? Be still my beating heart~

Isn't Christian Bale's dad married to Gloria Steinem?

Cannot WAIT!!
 

I don't find Leto attractive whatsover, but Bale is gorgeous. Not in The Machinist, though. :eek:

I heard a clip of Leto's band and laughed. They're baaaaaaaaaaad.

I thought it was really good, but you need a strong stomach to be able to look at Bale. He's so incredibly disgusting in it, you won't believe your eyes. Great performance, though. I didn't like how it was all wrapped up like that in the end, but other than that, it's worth seeing. :nod:

:shrug: I like them. I have the CD - they also got quite a lot of good reviews :shrug:

How the hell do you find Leto absolutely unattractive? You like 'em pretty, and the man is gorgeous!

To keep on topic....yeah....I will see Batman, only because I've been lusting after Bale since American Psycho.

Not from me. :laugh:

So far, from all the actors-turned-musicians I've heard, the only one that I consider to be talented in the music arena is Juliette Lewis. The rest kind of...suck. Gina Gershon ain't half bad, either, but she tries too hard.

He does nothing for moi. Neither does Antonio Sabato Jr., which has Jason shaking his head in disbelief. I can't explain, I'm just weird. :laugh:

Ah, I want to get Juliette's album! I will have to buy it soon....

Yeah, you are weird. Bizzare even. A regular freak at that.

j/k ;)

Her album kicks ass. I even successfully converted Greg.

Why joke? It's the truth.

:shrug:
Because I honestly do not think you are weird.

:wavey:

I heard some, it is pretty darn good, actually. :) A little hard for my taste most of the time, but good nonetheless.

Aww, that warms my cockles. :laugh: :xoxo:

Am I disgusting for finding Jared Leto attractive ONLY when he's getting the **** beaten out of him in Fight Club?

I LOVE Christian Bale. I am so damned excited for Batman. I loved him in The Machinist. Even saw Reign of Fire for him. (Okay, that's so not true- Matthew McConaughey and Gerry Butler were in it too) I hope Katie doesn't ruin the movie. I think she's a horrific actress, always has been, and every clip I've seen with her in it is painful.

The actual album has a few fabulous slow songs. Not exactly ballads, but less in-your-face than the other stuff.

I am calling the authorities.

What the hell is a cockle? Or do I want to know...? :shrug: :p

Ah, even H. likes it...will definitely have to pick it up now :D

Yeah, because our tastes in music are so similar.... :shocked: :shocked:

He was amazing in The Machinist and Jennifer Jason Leigh too. Bale is a truly gifted actor, Batman is my favourite superhero and this movie sounds good, but the main interest for me is to see Michael Caine as Alfred. :nod: .

Romy

I have reserved faith in this movie. I'm more of a Michael Keaton fan to play Batman (as you can see by my signature photo)....

I would rather see a destitute Gotham City, circa 2020, and see Michael Keaton reprise the role as a retired Batman returning to claim back his city.

Personally, instead of him reprising his role as Batman, I'd like to see him return to Beetlejuice. And it might happen since he's been saying for awhile that they're developing a script and that he's more than game. That will always be his finest role to me. :D

I read a review for the new Batman flick that said there is hardly any action until the movie is more than half over. Should be interesting...

Yeah I read that too, that it's more like the first Superman film in that you dont see him in costume until the last half of the movie. It's an origin story. But then again, most people dont care how he became Batman.

I would like to see Keaton as Beetlejuice again too...however Tim Burton would HAVE to be involved too, or it just wouldn't work.

Hmmm...then I'll probably like it. I've always like Juliette's voice, I bet she's great.

Diss, how's her band?

TIGHT. I've seen them live and they sound precisely like they do on the record. Patty from Hole was in her band at the beginning, but she left and I was a little disappointed, but the new drummer is ace. You can hear some full-length songs at http://www.julietteandthelicks.com .

I plug them endlessly because I want them to stay around for a looooooong time. :laugh: They're what rock should be. If you want me to send you some songs, let me know.

Just like I thought, BATMAN BEGINS was a really good movie.

but, I still prefer the 1989 Batman and 1992 Batman Returns. Something about Michael Keaton.

They are totally different takes on the character really...this director took a much more literal approach to the character and it was less comic booky. I think Tim Burton had the better way of looking at it.

Why has Christian Bale suddenly got an American accent?

He was over here last week doing publicity for Batman Begins and talking in a heavy American accent, using phrases such as "stick a fork in my ass". :laugh:

I know he's spent a lot of time over in the US, but up until two years ago, when he was doing publicity for Reign Of Fire, he still had his strong British accent (he's actually Welsh).

Anyway, it's really bugging me.

Can someone's accent really change like that so quickly? :confused:

Well, if Madonna can affect a bad English accent....

I know!!!
 

Jerry Hall is awesome ! :nod:

Interestingly enough, Jerry Hall was IN the 1989 Batman movie.

I saw it Saturday night at, like, 11pm and almost fell asleep in the theater (not because of the movie :laugh: ) and thought it was the BEST Batman movie. Bale was ****ing superb. He's the first one to actually breathe life into Bruce Wayne AND Batman, none of the other actors had the ability to do so, imo. Just a fantastic movie. Even Katie Holmes didn't bother me, but I don't think she's a bad actress anyway. Just has ****ty taste in men.

All Hail the Bale. :laugh:

Katie didn't bother me as much as I thought she would, since I've *always* hated her.

Christian was fantastic. I loved when the uniform was on and he'd use the super-special deep Batman voice. I saw it in one of the cheapest, nastiest, smelliest, most uncomfortable theaters in all of the city of Chicago and still managed to not get taken out of the movie at all.

My only quibble- Nolan really doesn't know how to direct those fight sequences. They were muddy, confusing, and dizzying. (Or was it just me that was dizzy? I WAS half-smashed after monster amounts of ouzo with my saganaki)