Go Back  DVD Talk Forum > Entertainment Discussions > Movie Talk
Reload this Page >

Christian Bale - Is there a more versatile actor?

Movie Talk A Discussion area for everything movie related including films In The Theaters

Christian Bale - Is there a more versatile actor?

Old 11-02-06, 07:45 PM
  #1  
DVD Talk Hero
Thread Starter
 
PopcornTreeCt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 25,913
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Christian Bale - Is there a more versatile actor?

I think Christian Bale is one of the most versatile actors out there. His movies may not be the greatest, though I pretty much love all of them, the roles he chooses for himself are so incredibly different from each other. I watch the previews for 'Harsh Times' and you wouldn't think in a million years that he's British. He's had such a diverse filmography with roles in American Psycho, The Machinist, Batman Begins, The New World, and upcoming Harsh Times. He's always doing something different and always challenging himself. I hope he starts to land bigger roles and gets some bigger attention.
Old 11-02-06, 07:49 PM
  #2  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
Drop's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Edison, NJ
Posts: 2,041
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
He's great, but I'm not sure he's going to have any bigger roles. I mean he is Batman, afterall.

I just want him to keep making good films. When I see his name in any project I know I'll at least be entertained.
Old 11-02-06, 07:53 PM
  #3  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Berkeley, CA
Posts: 1,981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
Old 11-02-06, 07:55 PM
  #4  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 5,656
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Gary Oldman.
Old 11-02-06, 07:59 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: VA
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt
He's had such a diverse filmography with roles in American Psycho, The Machinist, Batman Begins, The New World, and upcoming Harsh Times. He's always doing something different and always challenging himself.
Don't forget Empire of the Sun. Or my personal favorite...Newsies!
Old 11-02-06, 08:12 PM
  #6  
Moderator
 
nemein's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: 1bit away from total disaster
Posts: 34,196
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Ching Wan Lau http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0490513/ although recently it seems like all he's doing in comedies his filmography is quite varied. When he needs to be the hard as nails cop (Full Alert) he can pull it off just as easily as playing the bafoon in some of his comedies (La Brassiere). He can play the romantic leading man (C'est la vie, mon chéri) or the confused "what's the hell has happened to me" role (The Victim) w/ equal adeptness. The one major thing he's lacking is that I don't believe he speaks english (or atleast not well enough to make it here in the US)... that and the aforementioned trend of just doing comedies.

That's not to detract from Christian Bale though as I've usually enjoyed his stuff as well.

Last edited by nemein; 11-02-06 at 08:32 PM.
Old 11-02-06, 08:33 PM
  #7  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Hamilton, Ontario
Posts: 17,134
Received 814 Likes on 569 Posts
Originally Posted by FinkPish
Gary Oldman.
FinkPish wins the prize with his answer.
Old 11-02-06, 09:36 PM
  #8  
DVD Talk Hero
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Duluth, GA, USA
Posts: 37,797
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Clint Howard.
Old 11-02-06, 10:11 PM
  #9  
DVD Talk Godfather
 
Giantrobo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Posts: 63,126
Received 1,748 Likes on 1,093 Posts
Bale is great but so is Alanna Ubach
Old 11-02-06, 10:57 PM
  #10  
Banned by request
 
Supermallet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Termite Terrace
Posts: 54,150
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
I'm surprised I'm the first one to mention Johnny Depp.
Old 11-02-06, 11:00 PM
  #11  
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,018
Received 99 Likes on 79 Posts
William H Macy
Old 11-02-06, 11:08 PM
  #12  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Nightmare Alley
Posts: 17,117
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Chris Tucker.
Old 11-03-06, 07:46 AM
  #13  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Central Jersey
Posts: 1,195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by FinkPish
Gary Oldman.
First person I thought of.
Old 11-03-06, 07:59 AM
  #14  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Depp immediately springs to mind, and even though his time has sort of passed, Michael Keaton was an extremely versatile actor. From roles like Beetlejuice and Mr. Mom to his great performance in Clean & Sober.

Last edited by MovieExchange; 11-03-06 at 01:11 PM.
Old 11-03-06, 08:09 AM
  #15  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Out of the sandbox!
Posts: 1,609
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree with the OP's opinion of Christian Bale. The contrast between 'The Machinist' and 'Batman Begins' still blows me away to this day. His work is extraordinary, and I think that his being in a movie, at least for me, garrentees I will enjoy it. Oh, and since no one mentioned Equilibrium, I will.
Old 11-03-06, 08:22 AM
  #16  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Mr. Cinema's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 18,044
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Phillip Seymour Hoffman. He can handle comedic roles too.
Old 11-03-06, 08:26 AM
  #17  
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,774
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by FinkPish
Gary Oldman.
We have a winnah
Old 11-03-06, 08:31 AM
  #18  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,413
Received 38 Likes on 28 Posts
Originally Posted by Suprmallet
I'm surprised I'm the first one to mention Johnny Depp.
I don't know. It seems to me that Depp can only pull of weird character roles. I never liked him whenever he's trying to play a normal person. Although, I do quite enjoy his eccentric characters.
Old 11-03-06, 09:19 AM
  #19  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Virginia
Posts: 857
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think Bale needs to play someone like an autistic guy, a transvestite or a really really old Indian before we start listing him amongst the all-time most versatile.
Old 11-03-06, 10:41 AM
  #20  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Surf City, CA
Posts: 1,882
Received 45 Likes on 37 Posts
Edward Norton
Old 11-03-06, 10:46 AM
  #21  
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Old 11-03-06, 11:18 AM
  #22  
DVD Talk Legend
 
bunkaroo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Chicago West Suburbs
Posts: 16,391
Received 201 Likes on 134 Posts
Originally Posted by hardercore
Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
Meh. He seems slimy in everything I've ever seen him in. Always felt he was vastly overrated.
Old 11-03-06, 11:23 AM
  #23  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Michael T Hudson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Formerly known as "BigDaddy"/Austin, TX
Posts: 11,578
Received 46 Likes on 28 Posts
Edward Norton
Old 11-03-06, 12:17 PM
  #24  
DVD Talk Godfather
 
Michael Corvin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 62,508
Received 909 Likes on 644 Posts
I've got nothing to add. The ones that immediately came to mind, Depp, Norton, Oldman & Hoffman are all accounted for.
Old 11-03-06, 12:33 PM
  #25  
DVD Talk Hero
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Duluth, GA, USA
Posts: 37,797
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Originally Posted by harrydoyle
I think Bale needs to play someone like an autistic guy, a transvestite or a really really old Indian before we start listing him amongst the all-time most versatile.
Did you not see "The Machinist"? The dude is committed!

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.