# Christian Bale? - I don't get it. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 28, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233 "2005-06-28T17:39:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233/21 "2005-06-29T06:43:24Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > Because you’re wrong. He’s a good actor. Well, you can’t say that, it’s all subjective and you sound just as dumb as the OP. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233/22 "2005-06-29T06:47:06Z")
> [@buns3000](#): > > I gather that a lot of Bale’s appeal is in his hotness, but this doesn’t help the OP (unless he’s gay). Or me. Yeah, I think everyone else in the thread is underestimating the effect of his hotness on his overall likeability. As an actor, I think he’s not much more than competent, but he always has the ability to seem smarter than he really is (as far as I know; the guy may be a genius IRL). Plus he picks interesting parts, if not always good movies, instead of going the safe, handsome-leading-man route. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233/23 "2005-06-29T06:58:24Z")
> [@Dr. Rieux](#): > > I thought he gave one hell of a performance in _The Machinist_–subtle and powerful. Yup, and speaking as someone who’s been in that kind of work, he did an excellent job portraying someone in that profession. I could _buy_ Bale in that role, a helluvalot easier than I could someone like Tom Cruise. ---
**Author:** ![Sarah\_Woodruff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sarah\_Woodruff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarah_Woodruff)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233/24 "2005-06-29T09:21:06Z")
> [@johnnyboy](#): > > I see a lot of love going out for Bale, and I don’t see why. You’re a hetero male, I take it? You wouldn’t understand… 😉 Seriously, one thing I have noticed is that the luscious Bale is a very _intense_ actor, so if he’s cast alongside somewhat flat or lazy (or limited) actors, he can come across as a bit of a caricature (See: _Captain Corelli’s Mandolin_. Or don’t because you won’t be getting those 2 hours of your life back). But in an intense film, alongside strong actors, he shines. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233/25 "2005-06-29T09:31:56Z")
I like Bale very much but thought he was very one-note in _Batman Begins_ but that was largely the nature of the role. His performance in _The Machinist_, which I saw the week before, was terrific. I think what the OP took as “Way too many facial expressions” was simply the fact that, due to his weight loss, Bale’s every facial muscle movement made it seem that his skull was trying to burst through his flesh. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233/26 "2005-06-29T10:23:10Z")
In _Laurel Canyon_ you get to see Frances McDormand’s boobs. Also Christian Bale is in it. ---
**Author:** ![parthenokinesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/cc9497/32.png) [@parthenokinesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parthenokinesis)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233/27 "2005-06-29T12:22:33Z")
Well, a couple things. First > [@](#): > > Well, you can’t say that, it’s all subjective and you sound just as dumb as the OP. I think Bale is accomplished enough that to call him a good actor is not a subjective statement. There may still be taste issues that are more sujective (like with me and Pacino. I mean, Hunh?..) One can objectlively state “Cristian Bale is a good actor, and Keeanu Reeves is a bad one.” Of course, that’s just my opinion 😉 Second, > [@](#): > > He’s a guy you go to when you need “dignified, but reserved”. He seems to pull that off very well. Whether he has a lot of range, I don’t know. But what I’ve seen him in, I thought he was good. [All the Little Animals](http://imdb.com/title/tt0120584/) is a very different role for Bale, one I’m kinda surprised hasn’t been mentioned. Third, > [@](#): > > How can you question his talent without having seen Reign of Fire? Now that’s the movie to make you question his talent! Hey, I liked that movie. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233/28 "2005-06-29T15:26:53Z")
> [@Silentgoldfish](#): > > Well, you can’t say that, it’s all subjective and you sound just as dumb as the OP. No, in fact I can say it and just did…and I really don’t give a damn whether it sounds dumb to you. Someone being a good actor isn’t really subjective. Can anyone say that you can’t say objectively that Laurence Olivier was a great actor? Of course not. Either someone can act or they can’t. Christian Bale can. Patrick Swayze, for example, can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233/29 "2005-06-29T17:05:28Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > No, in fact I can say it and just did…and I really don’t give a damn whether it sounds dumb to you. Someone being a good actor isn’t really subjective. Can anyone say that you can’t say objectively that Laurence Olivier was a great actor? Of course not. Either someone can act or they can’t. Christian Bale can. Patrick Swayze, for example, can’t. Say whatever you want, you’re the one sounding dumb. All art is subjective and acting is part of that. Sure Laurence Olivier was a successfull actor but I bet I can find someone that can’t stand his acting and no amout of being told he’s great will change their opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233/30 "2005-06-29T19:36:21Z")
I think Bale was a good Batman because he has shark eyes. You know, like they described of the shark in Jaws: Cold, dead eyes. Bale seems to me like a method actor who will suffer for his art, and purposely go through pain and agony to elicit the emotion on screen. Much like when Martin Sheen broke actual glass in _Apocalypse Now_ and nearly bled to death. I like it when somebody loses a few teeth for my entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233/31 "2005-06-29T19:50:26Z")
I thought he was the perfect choice for Bruce Wayne/Batman, and I’ve thought so ever since I first saw him in American Psycho. That wasn’t a terribly great movie, but I thought he was awesome in the role. I’m glad some casting director had the exact same idea I did, because he is the greatest screen Batman ever in the best Batman movie ever. And I say this as a huge Mask of the Phantasm fan. Equilibrium is a lot of fun too, and he was also playing a Batman-like character, a deadly-serious man of action who wasn’t used to emoting. It’s a great sci-fi movie, if a bit heavy-handed: a futuristic dystopian tale that liberally cribs from Fahrenheit 451, 1984, and Brave New World, with the visual style of The Matrix and a cool-looking (if implausible) fighting style called gunkata. For the ladies, it has Taye Diggs and Sean Bean as well as Bale. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233/32 "2005-06-29T19:56:30Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > Patrick Swayze, for example, can’t. Hey…no one puts Patrick Swayze in a corner! ---
**Author:** ![johnnyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbe5ce/32.png) [@johnnyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnnyboy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233/33 "2005-06-30T07:08:57Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > Yeah, I think everyone else in the thread is underestimating the effect of his hotness on his overall likeability. As an actor, I think he’s not much more than competent, but he always has the ability to seem smarter than he really is (as far as I know; the guy may be a genius IRL). Plus he picks interesting parts, if not always good movies, instead of going the safe, handsome-leading-man route. Well, thank god, there’s atleast someone who doesn’t fall over praising him. Anyway, thanks for all the opinions, i like reading them. ---
**Author:** ![johnnyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbe5ce/32.png) [@johnnyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnnyboy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233/34 "2005-06-30T07:29:10Z")
> [@buns3000](#): > > That was the thought I had when I read the OP, but substitute _Velvet Goldmine_ for _Reign of Fire_ (which I haven’t seen). > > I gather that a lot of Bale’s appeal is in his hotness, but this doesn’t help the OP (unless he’s gay). Or me. I don’t know about that. He seems to have just much male fans as females. Atleast the ones i’ve talked to. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233/35 "2005-06-30T15:31:24Z")
> [@Silentgoldfish](#): > > Say whatever you want, you’re the one sounding dumb. Well, who can argue with that sort of logic? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233/36 "2005-06-30T16:36:46Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > For the ladies, it has Taye Diggs and Sean Bean as well as Bale. And, a cute little puppy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-i-dont-get-it/310233.md?page=1)