Harsh Times – Leben am Limit (2005)

Harsh Times – Leben am Limit: Directed by David Ayer. With Christian Bale, Freddy Rodríguez, Eva Longoria, Chaka Forman. A tough-minded drama about two friends in South Central Los Angeles and the violence that comes between them.

“The plot in this film is somewhat like an aircraft that spends a puzzlingly long time taxiing along the runway before it finally gets airborne. Even then, it is not until the final part that the joystick is forcefully pulled back, and with a great whoosh we are up for some very showy loop-the-loops and victory rolls. HARSH TIMES is both sophisticated and ambitious, with intriguing character development. Despite the slow start that had me, an avid fan of Christian Bale, shifting uncomfortably in my seat, it is never the less witty, ingenious, and a pleasure to watch. Christian Bale undoubtedly stole the show.”