Harsh Times

Haunted by nightmares from his murderous military past, the honourably discharged Jim (Christian Bale) spends his time between his impoverished fiance in rural Mexico and cruising the streets of east L.A., with his buddy Mike (Freddy Rodriguez).

They fool Mike's girlfriend (Eva Longoria) into thinking he's actually dropping off resumes. Homeland Security meanwhile wants to recruit Jim for some special ops, but first he has to pass a urine test. This is the directorial debut of David Ayer, who wrote TRAINING DAY.

Christian Bale delivers, as usual, a towering performance: growing progressively more disturbed as the film goes on, he weeps, roars, struts, shouts and flips out, maintaining audience sympathy all the while.