‘Harsh times’."Cool Times".
Haven’t heard?
I’m pretty sure that’s the case.
Movie 2005.
David Ayer – director (“Street Kings”, screenwriter and producer of “Fast and the Furious” and something else he had).

Christian Bale. Freddy Rodriguez (“Planet Terror”, TV series “Scrubs”).
Eva Longoria Parker (TV series "Desperate Housewives").
And the budget is 2 a million rustling.
Fees – almost 6 millions.
That is, the film paid for itself three times.
This means, apparently, that there is something to see.
People who leave reviews of films on Kinopoisk won’t lie!

And there really is something to see.
The amazing magic of cinema and acting is manifested again – cinema is almost continuous and continuous chatter, but anyone who is interested in the “scumbag” side of American life will stick to this chatter for the entire two hours.
The magic lies in the acting: Bale, Rodriguez, Longoria play so masterfully, writing out the characters of their characters with a thin pencil on white paper, that you fall in love with these very characters once and, probably, forever.

Former Ranger Jim Davis, fought in Afghanistan, https://betirocasino.co.uk/bonus/ back in Los Angeles, trying to get a job in the police.
Jim Davis – this is Christian Bale in 2005, that is, a pumped-up man to the extreme “I don’t want to” with a stern expression on his face.
Jim was turned down by the police.
Didn’t pass the psychological test.
If only he had passed it – those who watched “American Psycho” with the same Bale will be pleasantly surprised by how Bale plays a psychopath again, but this time he plays in a completely different way, which is an undoubted and big plus for the actor.
Jim has terrible dreams about Afghanistan.
Jim is gradually losing his temper.
Wanting to have a blast in Los Angeles, he ends up going completely off the rails.
Jim has a girlfriend in Mexico.
They want to get married.
And Jim is hired at FBI.
He’ll be sent to Colombia.
"To kill people", as he himself puts it.
"To kill people" – he likes it.
Tough guy – it’s about him.
But before joining the FBI, Jim wanted to go to work for the police here in Los Angeles, thereby giving his future wife the right to move to America on a full-time basis.
Wife, future children, stable job… but instead a complete breakdown and something worse.

Jim’s childhood friend Mike Alonzo (Freddy Rodriguez, yeah) – now unemployed and living entirely on the money of his beautiful wife.
This same wife is not too happy that her husband does not work.
Even more unhappy that Jim is back.
Jim and Mike’s friendship is as strong as Jim’s body.
They always stick together.
Stand up for each other.
We need to find a job, which is what the characters in the film doOmost of the time.
But the film (surprisingly) is not about that at all.
And about the fact that..
Yes, yes, everything is as usual.

Everything was shot quite well.
At the right moments, the hand-held camera “turns on”, and everything on the screen, as hinted from the audience, shakes, conveying this uneven, dirty spirit of the American streets.
When the situation is calm, the camera takes a static position, without preventing us from enjoying the wonderful acting.
The elephant is happy with this approach.
Music plays a huge role in the film.
It adjusts to the desired perception of the situation.
For the most part, the melodies that are played are of a rap-Mexican nature (don’t even ask how that is), which at first is perceived as strictly contrary to the “setting”.
Then you get used to it and realize that for a street theme, such songs are just right.

Somehow I don’t want to find fault with anything in the film.
And even if I want to, I’m unlikely to find what I can do.
No, the film is not the best in the world.
Why?
I can’t say, but this is how it happens that even films that are ideal in terms of meeting the needs of viewers remain simply “good” and do not become “masterpieces.”.
What is the difference between a "good" film and a "masterpiece"?
Probably to the extent of the impressions left behind.
Although this is far from a fact – each of you will put forward your own version (and put it forward, we’ll discuss it at the same time).
The film is just fun to watch.
Just like that, simple.
Sit down in the evening and watch.
Don’t prepare, don’t learn about anything.
Don’t know who’s playing, what’s the story, and who’s the director?.
What is the budget.
It seems to me that either the mass audience will not watch this movie?
Nevertheless, it will be better than most of what has been filmed in recent years.
My advice to you: if you haven’t watched it, watch it.
The film may not be for everyone.
Right now.
Without thinking about what you will get out of it, whether you will be interested, etc.
If you have already watched it or are sure that you won’t, then open the spoilers.

The film, which begins as fun entertainment for grown men, then develops into something more serious than a break from working life.
Suddenly, this film poses serious questions to the viewer.
What is more important: family or career??
How important is it to stop on time??
What does a “bad” lifestyle bring??
What is more important: a friend or a wife??
Maybe you should think once before deceiving anyone?
How to contain your feelings that may be dangerous to other people?
Are you friends with the right person??
And this is not a complete list of questions.
The film won’t answer them because the film doesn’t need to.
The film is a teacher, and at the moment it is asking a question to you, not to itself.
If you think about at least one question, then it will be good, because you will probably become a little better.
If not… well, in that case, it’s still Bale and his chic company (in Bale’s case, unrealistically chic: what intonations, what movements, what eyes, what facial expressions!) with their acting they gave the world a very, very good film.

Two hours flew by.
My recommendations for viewing for those who are “in the know”.
And yes, watch strictly in the original.
Bale’s intonations are gorgeous and crazy.

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