Christian Bale and I Are Done Professionally

Written by Writer Dad on February 10, 2009 - View Comments
Categories: Movies

baletshirtIf you’re not sure what the headline refers to, check this out (be aware, it isn’t safe for work, and our favorite dark knight does have quite the potty mouth). When you’re done, and if you’re still in the mood, check this. It’s my favorite of the parodies so far.

Christian Bale and I aren’t done professionally. He acted like a punk and his outburst was inexcusable, but it won’t keep me from seeing Terminator: Salvation and the next time he’s got ears above his head, I’ll still gladly open my wallet for a ticket.

I saw the Dark Knight for the second time last night and just wanted to spend a few hundred words saying, “golly.”  Though it doesn’t have the special effects of Spiderman or the gee whiz isn’t it cool of Iron Man, it does have a resonant basis in reality that seemed impossible within the genre just a few years back.

Two and a half straight hours bursting with the brand of Batman I didn’t think ever had a chance of flying up on screen. Batman’s been the best since he had to share Saturdays with the Smurfs. The 90′s animated series was a big bag of bomb yo, but the caped crusader always looked a bit ridiculous when he was flesh and blood.

Christopher Nolan laid the framework in the first film, but Batman begins was just a bullet off the bulls-eye, the Dark Knight is a perfect shot with a flaming arrow.

Every note of the Dark Knight plays in perfect pitch with the best of the character’s rich mythology brewed over seven decades. Yet, shockingly, every moment is no less believable than most other films, and far less than any other super hero film ever shot, chopped, and tossed on screen.

When Nolan was first unveiled as the director promising to reboot the Batman franchise a few years back, I was giddy. Well, at first a little disappointed (Darren Arronofsky, director of Requiem For a Dream was originally going to direct a draft of Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One, before the WB deemed it “too dark”), but that disappointment dimmed in seconds. Once I realized the guy who directed Memento (a twisted story of insane obsession) was getting a clean shot at one of the darkest of our legends, well then I was all smiles.

The Dark Knight met the promise made by the first movie, then redefined the possibility of an entire genre.

Writer Dad

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  • Hey Ricardo!

    Yeah, if the dude shows a pattern of such behavior it'll be a lot tougher to forgive, but just this once I've no problem letting it slide.
  • Yeah I was shocked (like "WoW") but I like the guy. So it's all good :-)
  • DavidB: I don't mind so much if Nolan doesn't do the third Batman, as long as the WB keeps the integrity of what's been started. I'm sure there are directors who would be more than happy to take things to the next level. I would love (though it'd probably never happen) to see a Michael Mann Batman. I'm sure it would be out of this world good.

    I think The Dark Knight is a good choice for this very reason. It could be really ballsy and take a lot of chances without messing with the continuity of the universe that's being created. I certainly like this idea more than I like the idea of the Justice League movie that barely escaped production last year.

    Marvels slate sounds really really good. I like what they're doing building background for an awesome Avenger's movie, though I'm not too sure about some of the stuff I've heard regarding Iron Man 2.

    Fox has needed help forever. Remember when they cut Singer's production time in half for the first X-Men film, then jerked him around right before the third? Not cool Fox, not cool.

    Bamboo Forest: I agree with what you are saying in principle, but I also think there is something to be accounted for time and place. They were on a big budget Hollywood movie set where that kind of language is not only tolerated, but acceptable and tirades by actors, producers, directors, and agents, are not uncommon. We just happened to hear that one. If I only enjoyed the work of those who behaved well on set, I'd probably have to watch a lot more Benji. Or Pixar.
  • I think Bale's behavior is inexcusable. People should be held to certain expectations. All this talk about no one is perfect is kinda silly. You're right, no one is perfect.

    But we're not talking about perfection. We're talking about not acting like a complete animal. And Bale did.

    Hey, you don't have to be perfect. But, the line must be drawn somewhere.
  • Yep, reported last night on Nolan doing Inception and also on the rumour of Wachowskis doing Superman. At this point, there's no guarantee Nolan will do Batman 3 - he's expressed a lot of doubts and rightly so. How can he possibly match the success of The Dark Knight, which is America's second highest grossing film ever (just Titanic above it) and the world's fourth highest grossing movie? The next move risks being described as 'not quite as good as...', 'doesn't reach the heights of...' 'performances don't match that of Ledger', etc.

    Snyder's desire to do a Batman movie is another oddity, as The Dark Knight Returns comic features an old, retired Bruce Wayne, so it wouldn't follow on from The Dark Knight movie.

    Next to watch out for from Warner Bros is Watchmen of course, and there is movement on Green Lantern and The Flash, as well as the lesser-known comic Jonah Hex. I've reported all those on my blog for anyone who doesn't know what they are all about!

    There's tons of other superhero stuff from other studios too - Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain Americ, Avengers, Wolverine, X-Men First Class. Enough to give a comic book fan a geekgasm. We just need 20th Century Fox to get its act together. They aren't flavour of the month at the moment.

    <abbr>DavidB’s last blog post..Wolverine producer talks running time and Storm cameo</abbr>
  • Writer Dad
    Hayden: Exactly. You said that (emotional inertia) way better than I. He sounded like a jerk yes, but I don't believe the circumstances cast it toward inexcusable.

    Matthew: I only saw it once, but it was in Imax. The first non Imax Imax movie I ever saw. It gave Daisy motion sickness and she was seriously sick for the rest of the day. Terminator looks pretty cool. I just read about fifteen minutes ago that the Wachowskis might be directing Superman. That could be super duper cool.

    Randi: That's exactly how he wants it.

    Melissa: I'd say it was hands down the best origin film ever, but the dark knight was so layered, and had to do so much more. Plus, it had to bring over the top comic book villains into flesh and blood and make them believable. Which it did amazingly well. Both are amazing, no doubt.

    DavidB: Hi, David. Nice to meet you. I actually agree with what you're saying about Bale, but in a movie so packed with depth, I didn't mind the enigma. Even if it was from the main character (I actually thought Gotham was the main character of the flick). Nolan is handling a movie called Inception (his own screenplay) next. Then Batman 3, which will probably be his last. Zack Snyder (Watchmen) is in talks (I understand) to help an adaptation of Frank Millar's, "The Dark Knight Returns," one of my favorite geek books of all time. It's a bit too cool to believe. Yes, Fox has a LOT to learn.
  • Hello, my first visit after Tara's Sticky Fingers pointed me in your direction. Interesting debate here. I really don’t know what to think about the Bale outburst, which is partly why I didn’t cover it on my own movie/sci-fi blog. I found it strange that the recording of this tantrum from way back in June 2008 has just been released, almost as though a cynical attempt to market the movie. No publicity is bad publicity – and I didn’t want to give this particular report any more oxygen. That clip of obscenity-peppered audio also has no context at all – we don’t know what was going on before it, what happened directly after it. Was it ‘roid rage’ or what? The whole thing is full of questions and uncertainties that left me uncomfortable about reporting on it. Bale went over the top, the media went over the top, everyone else went over the top (music recordings, techno remixes, assorted merchandise), so I was determined to stay well under the top!

    I also loved Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. But I think The Dark Knight is a little overrated and Bale is almost a total cipher in the film. We get to see very little of Batman/Bruce, it’s all about the Joker. The standout performances are Ledger, Freeman, Eckhart, Caine and Oldman. Gyllenhaal was also forgettable – her fate brought no emotion from me or from anyone I know; in that respect, the film failed to make her matter to the audience. I do think the film deserved Oscar nods for screenplay, picture and director though and it’s a bit of a slap in the face for Christopher Nolan to be ignored at the Oscars. There’s even talk he may now step down and that a new director could do the next Batman film.

    The geeks have now moved on from Bale's tirade. The current frenzy is over Wolverine, after producer Lauren Shuler Donner said it would be 'way under two hours' in length. 20th Century Fox has a bad habit of trimming its sci-fi movies too much and it looks like this will be no exception. Naughty Fox. They need a good year after last year's avalanche of disasters at the box office. You'd think they would learn!

    <abbr>DavidB’s last blog post..Wolverine producer talks running time and Storm cameo</abbr>
  • Sometimes I think I'm the only person on the planet who liked Batman Begins better than The Dark Knight. I loved them both - but I thought the first film was hands-down the best superhero movie ever.

    <abbr>Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..Plot vs. Character: Fiction Writing</abbr>
  • Is this a bad time to mention that I am afraid of Batman?

    <abbr>Randi’s last blog post..Cool Things we did in 2008</abbr>
  • I don't even have an opinion on his outburst.

    I saw the Dark Knight three times. In theater (though not in iMax...dammit).

    And I will certainly see the Terminator movie.

    <abbr>Matthew Dryden’s last blog post..Cee?</abbr>
  • While I'm not thrilled by Christian Bales' actions, I completely understand how that could happen. He is the KING of darkly and intense roles. If you interrupt someone while they are in the middle of emoting 'psychopath' or 'angry man' it is very hard to reverse that emotional inertia. (That's why many counselors recommend that spouses embrace 'cool-off' time before they discuss something which upsets them.)

    The gentleman in question absolutely did not belong on the set while shooting was taking place and while I've never chewed out my coworkers like that, I've wanted to give someone a piece of my mind before.

    Until I see a pattern of abusive behavior, I'll consider this a one-time incident. Everyone is entitled to be human once in a while, even actors.

    <abbr>Hayden Tompkins’s last blog post..How to Rock Your Valentine’s Old Skool!</abbr>
  • Writer Dad
    Ian: Yes, it is disappointing behavior, but none of us are perfect. Would I have behaved like Bale? No, I'd certainly like to think not, but then again I've never been in a situation as intense as the Terminator Salvation sound stage. Have I ever lost my temper or had a terrible day? Yes, of course. If Bale had a history of throwing tantrums on set, then I would have a more difficult time excusing his behavior, but he doesn't. He is by all accounts a consummate professional and has been since he was a child. There are filmmakers who cross the line for me, Bale just didn't do it with three minutes of audio, no matter how unprofessional he may have been. The lighting tech was not fired. The situation was dealt with that day and did not re-emerge.

    Lori: I'm totally with you, and I've read the same accounts. I think you hit on an important aspect by comparing it to a eulogy. Bale is an intense actor. If he put himself in an entirely different mindset before the scene started - raw and emotionally charged from what I understand - it is unreasonable to expect him to snap out of it like the flipping of a switch. Also, you can totally feel when listening to the audio that it was a situation that had been brewing for a while.

    Ryan: Batman Begins was AWESOME! It did everything a reboot origin film needed to do. However, the themes explored in the Dark Knight were more epic on every level. We got to see the Joker brought to life in a way that I didn't even think possible. Joker works well on the page, but never on screen. Heath Ledger (who I was boo hiss on from the very beginning) was perfect, amazingly articulating Alan Moore's Joker among the best of the mythology. The Dark Knight brought iconic, mythological characters to life and imbued them with depth rather than rendering them into a live action cartoon. As far Bale, no, I don't think I'd ever let him babysit.
  • Tom
    Sure it's shocking to hear an outburst like that, but should we be surprized? No. Actors are high maintenance, and the crew nows it. They choose to be there and put up with it. I'm not saying the behavior is acceptable, but you know the risks when you take the job. Kind of like being on the bomb squad, which in this case might be safer.

    Ironman/Dark Knight, tough to say which movie I liked better. I liked the darkness of the Dark Knight, but Ironman was more fun to watch with the kids. Both comic book movies, but both are very different.

    I look forward for Watchmen next month.

    <abbr>Tom’s last blog post..She’s Got OCD…</abbr>
  • I disagree.

    Batman Begins was leaps ahead of the Dark Knight. Becoming Batman is more appealing to me than becoming dark... even for good reasons. The psychological duel in Batman Begins was priceless...

    ... Mr. Bales antics, on the other hand, were inexcusable despite being an apt reflection of similar tirades going unrecorded in the homes of America and around the world. He won the psychological battle in the movies, but he lost it within himself--so many of us do. I guess we can add him to the disgustingly long list of iconic figures becoming good examples of what not to do.

    And yeah, I'll keep watching his movies, but I'll never let him babysit my son....

    <abbr>Ryan’s last blog post..Who do you identify with?</abbr>
  • The way I hear it, the lighting tech is known for tweaking when he should be getting it right before the scene. Have you ever been in a very intense and serious and emotional meeting and one person keeps try to fix your PowerPoint presentation while its running, or starts to clean up some trash on the table, or picks lint off of you while you are speaking? The tech sounds like the prima donna more than Bale could ever be, and Bale had enough. What if you had to give an emotionally charged eulogy at a funeral and someone kept adjusting the lighting in the room? Give Bale a break! Yes, he could have been more professional, but he was into his scene, which meant he had to alter his heart, mind, and emotions to play a part. Try being professional when you've invested so much into a scene, moment, meeting, presentation, or conversation and someone comes by to mess you up. I hope you will be kind and civil, but why judge Bale for a single outburst?

    <abbr>Lori’s last blog post..Update: ‘The End’ … and …</abbr>
  • After listening to that, I am disappointed. I do not care for angry male puffery in any situation. After hearing this, I will not be giving any money to a movie in which he is an actor. It's a shame that he could not behave professionally himself in what was a tense situation. Yes, as Kyddryn says, actors do scenes over and over again. I was in a theatre and fine arts program in college for acting, so I've first hand experience of what it is like to work a scene ad nauseum. However, a ruined take on film can be a bit more irritating.

    Bale's behavior was not professional at all. A professional would have let the director reprimand the lighting tech and sucked it up to do another take. That's what Bale is paid (a lot of money) to do -- act. If he were truly an excellent actor, he would have acted professional and then threatened to kick the guys rear off set later. Instead, he lost his cool, flew off the handle, delayed the scene even further (possibly even ruining his own acting for the rest of the day), and insisted that a person who is paid peanuts compared to him be fired.

    I sincerely hope that Bale does quit the film. The lighting tech does not deserve to be fired over a spoiled child's outburst. It's amazing how the movie industry is so analogous to and entitled monarchy on set. He sounded lihe the Red Queen. "OFF WITH HIS HEAD!" What a tool.
  • Writer Dad
    Miguel: Sorry I missed you there, man. Yeah, I'm with you. If he had been raging at his wife, it would have been a totally different story. A hundred and fifty million dollar movie set has an entirely different atmosphere.
  • Writer Dad
    Tara/Marc: Yes, it may have tarnished his star, but he didn't pull a Roman Polanski or anything. I think Kyddryn said it really well below. The pressures of a movie set, where thousands of dollars are burned every minute, is unbelievable. Also, for a guy like Bale who really does get deep into his role (and was shooting the scene that was to be the emotional center of the film) it is probably pretty difficult to pull yourself out once you're in that deep. One thing that struck me when listening to the audio is that his accent was barely there. He was so deep into being John Connor at the time, that only a hint of Bale was there beneath the surface. Do I wish he hadn't done it? Yes. Will I give the guy another chance? Yes.

    I don't know who Gordon Ramsey is, but I promise he'll never get my dollars or attention. : > )

    Sal: Dooood, drop what you're doing. If you like Batman, you'll love the Dark Knight.

    Kyddryn: Awesome and one, K. I thought you did an excellent job here. Bale actually did have one other outburst (with his mom and sister), but if what I'm reading is correct, that incident occurred on the same day. We're just hearing the audio now. Must've been the worst day ever.
  • Yeah, I heard his rampage on youtube but who hasn't exploded before? I know, he went to far but haven't we all at some time or another? I'm still a fan but if he's beating his wife- I can't stand that kind of nonsense. :)

    -Mig

    <abbr>miguel’s last blog post..Revisited: 31 Days to Building A Better Blog</abbr>
  • Hmm...

    Devil's advocate (not excusing, only explaining) - actors do scenes over, and over, and over again...same words, same inflections, same motions, until the director is satisfied. Just when they think they're done and can move on to the next scene, one step closer to finished for the day and all the makeup and appliances left behind in the trailer...someone sneezes. Or a phone rings. Or someone walks through the scene. And it's not like, "oh, well, we'll just do one more and be done..." nope. Everything has to be reset again, and then the light has changed, or someone flubs a line...and a shoot that should be done, a scene that was finally perfect....drags on for hours longer. It happens, and people's tempers flare, and they try to suck it up, but the frustration is tremendous and occasionally someone just blows.

    Everyone has a bad day now and then...and everyone loses their temper sometimes...but not everyone has the joy of being recorded while they let off steam, and having that recording sent 'round the world with an upload. At least he used his words and not his fists...something other actors and actresses may not be able to claim.

    That said - yes, he used shocking language...but am I the only one who noticed that, even as he was yelling at the poor fellow who walked onto the scene, even as he was losing his temper, he was explaining his frustration at this SECOND offense (with many, many expletives - I actually thought about listening to it again and counting the naughty words, but my ears were already burning...), and even telling the man "You're a nice guy..."?

    I don't much care about someone's level of fame...bad behavior is bad behavior and should be curtailed - but given that this is the first time he's done something like this (that I'm aware of), perhaps he could be permitted to learn from his experience, grow from his experience, and move on...especially if the other fellow has accepted the apology and they're square with each other.

    Of course, I could be wrong, and I'm OK with that...every time I get it wrong, I'm closer to getting it right. Right?

    Shade and Sweetwater,
    K (who pleads the excuse of being plague-ridden for any nonsense above...what her excuse will be when she is well is anybody's guess)

    <abbr>Kyddryn’s last blog post..Little Compton, RI</abbr>
  • Sal
    You know, I never saw the Dark Knight. I think I had it in my hand about 3 weeks ago to buy on DVD, but for some reason or another (Bella wanted Veggie Tales...*clears throat*) it never made it to the check out. I guess now I will have to go back and make sure I shop alone :)

    <abbr>Sal’s last blog post..On Your Mark, Get Set, SCRAM!</abbr>
  • D'oh! The comment editor removed my "expletive deleted" entries. Silly HTML!

    My sentence originally read:
    "As for that (expletive deleted)chef, Gordon (expletive deleted) Ramsey, he can (expletive deleted) off."
  • I totally agree with Tara. I've been massively impressed with Bale's acting but that outburst was just downright disgusting. I realise he's apologised and that has lessened the "hurt" a bit but yeah who does he think he is?

    As for that chef, Gordon Ramsey, he can off. ;)

    Seriously, I don't care how good he is I don't touch his products in any shape, way or form. A disgrace to us Brits to be honest.

    <abbr>Marc’s last blog post..5 Books To Help With Your Blogging. You Only Pay For 1</abbr>
  • I don't mind telling you I am shocked.
    I adore Christian Bale. I think he is an exemplary actor and I am there at the front of the queue if I know he's going to be starring in something.
    But that little outburst has tarnished his star somewhat for me. I just thought, who does he think he is? What about if we all behaved like that when someone who works for us f***s up? It's not like you're REALLY saving the world CB.
    We have a 'superstar' chef here in England called Gordon Ramsey and he treats people in an appaulling manner and yet it's kind of accepted because he is such a good chef and because he knows what he's talking about. I just think he's an ass who can't control his temper.
    Like you, I will probably still go see him, but tut tut tut, how very disappointing. I just hope this doesn't mean he's going down the do-you-know-who-I-am route that Russell Crowe took.

    <abbr>Tara@Sticky Fingers’s last blog post..Quotables</abbr>
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