Birthday Bale
Sunday, January 30, 2011 at 11:48AM Here's to Christian Bale, future Oscar winner (unless this King's Speech thing *really* gets out of hand), on his 37th birthday! He might even win the SAG Award tonight on his birthday.
It's hard to remember that he's not even 40 yet. He's been in the movies for so long!
Christian Bale, the 12 year old star of "Empire of the Sun"
Since that auspicious debut in Steven Spielberg's Empire (1987) which was nominated for 6 Oscars (but strangely didn't catch fire in any of the top categories, despite being a World War II epic) it's been quite a trip: He assisted a royal Oscar powerhouse (Henry V); ended his teenage years dancing (Swing Kids) and singing (Newsies); got curiously soft and swoony (Pocahontas, Little Women); was overcome by hormonal confusion in his mid 20s (Velvet Goldmine, Metroland, A Midsummer Night's Dream); played God and then the Devil back to back in his late 20s (Mary, Mother of Jesus & American Pyscho) as if to warn us, spiritually, of his physical yo-yoing to come; and then the films came fast and furious with the actor jumping genres and personas and body types left and right (Laurel Canyon, Reign of Fire, Equilibrium, The Machinist, Batman Begins, The New World, Rescue Dawn, The Prestige, I'm Not There, etcetera).
It's been hard to keep up with him. He's dancing as fast as he can through the cinema.
What's your favorite Bale performance?
Christian Bale, Oscars (10), SAG, precursor awards
Reader Comments (24)
Still, a tie between American Psycho and Empire of the Sun. I still don't think he's given a performance of the same emotional accessibility since EOTS.
definitely American Psycho!
By far, American Psycho.
It's funny looking back to him in "Henry V", which is my all-time favourite film. If Branagh ever does "Macbeth" and doesn't play the role himself, he should get Bale.
EMPIRE OF THE SUN is one of Spielberg's best and most spielbergian dramas. Great way to start off a career. Not that it means anything to you, a renowned Spielberg detractor. ;-)
BTW, my favorite Bale turn is in I'M NOT THERE. Best in show - and yes, I'm taking La Blanchett into account.
Probaby "The Fighter", but his work in "The New World" is really strong, understated. Kind of the opposite ends of his range, I suppose.
I actually did like him a lot in his quieter, more supporting roles, like The New World and Laurel Canyon. Rewatched the latter just yesterday and will never get tired of that famous non-sex sex scene with Natascha McElhone in the car.
Hmmm....I gotta do a top ten:
I'm Not There
American Psycho
The Fighter
The Prestige
The New World
Rescue Dawn
3:10 to Yuma
Velvet Goldmine
The Dark Knight
Empire of the Sun
I've had a bad feeling Oscar was going to find some way to pass on Bale at the last minute, Hooper winning the DGA didn't help that feeling.
Oops, the ninth film on my list is a mistake! That should be Batman Begins...
His best work is American Psycho. Followed by The Fighter and The Prestige. He's the best actor working and I'm glad to see him returning to that mantle after a couple less-than-stellar years
Am I the only one that thinks this Oscar is somewhat overdue? He's one of the most talented actors of this generation, in my opinion.
Aww, Swing Heil!
"Empire of the Sun" is my favorite performance, followed by his sweet turn as Laurie in "Little Women." How could Winona Ryder choose creepy Gabriel Byrne over him?
My crush on Bale started, though, with seeing him in "Treasure Island" with Charlton Heston. I watched that so many times.
I'm back and forth on his performance in The Fighter but it's hard to deny his no-holds-barred portrayal of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. And, yes, he'd be overdue if he never made another movie before or after AP.
That is not a Swing Kids gif. No. Bad, Internet, bad. I watched that film in HS history class (long story) and had almost erased it from my memory. Now it all comes flooding back.
Favorite Bale performance? I'm a fan of The Prestige.
Let's see here:
Swing Kids
Little Women
Velvet Goldmine
The Machinist
Batman Begins
The Prestige
I'm Not There
The Dark Knight
Terminator Salvation
Public Enemies
I'll pick Velvet goldmine, because for he, he was the heart of the film.
Raul, I know exactly what you mean about Little Women!
From those I've seen, probably American Psycho. My personal favorite Bale films are The Dark Knight, The Prestige, and American Psycho.
I haven't seen them all -yet. Of what I've seen, I think I like Laurel Canyon best, for it's complexity of character. I also really like The Prestige, 3:10 to Yuma, and Empire of the Sun.
And he was perfect as Laurie, like Raul and Dimitra have mentioned, in Little Women. I showed my daughter that film when she was 6, and she liked Amy best of the 4 sisters (!) so of course she was pleased when Amy married Laurie, showing her good sense and taste.
It'd have to be American Psycho: if not for the performance itself, then for the fact that it's colored my perception of Bale ever since. (Especially when listening to him dub the title character in Howl's Moving Castle.) But he's good in I'm Not There and as Batman, too.
empire of the sun - if ever a kid was going to follow jackie cooper into the best actor ranks it really should've been that performance
It's amazing how nobody seems to remember his crazy tirade on the set of Terminator Salvation this year. Good for him, but surprising nonetheless.
I pick American Psycho, by the way.
His "American Psycho" performance was - give or take Heath Ledger in "Brokeback Mountain" - the best male performance of then '00s. So, naturally, that's my favourite.
AMERICAN PSYCHO!!
"I have to return some video tapes"---Gah I love him!!
Happy Birthday Mr. Bale