Top 5 Performances: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy

Oscar hyping continues with a look at Brit contenders Christian Bale and Tom Hardy. Enjoy!

Bale:

5. Rescue Dawn

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A spellbinding depiction of mental and physical degradation by Bale here as Dieter Dengler, a real-life German American pilot who was shot down and captured by villagers in Laos during the Vietnam war. Bale firstly sets up an endearing character by his charm and humour in the initial scenes, and then proceeds to break it down over the course of his performance. Each suffering, torture and toil Dieter endures in his time at the prison camp and his escape from it so vividly brought to life through his fantastic physical depiction of a resilient man, slowly devastated by the harshnss of his surroundings. Even more impressively, he portrays the mental imbalance and almost otherworldly mentality to survive of Dieter beautifully, and uses it to generate some great chemistry with fellow escapee Duane (an excellent Steve Zahn).  He makes for one very compelling in a lead who carries the film so well, although it's not his best performance in a role of this sort.

4. Empire of the Sun





It's remarkable how Bale, in his first lead role, so effortlessly carried a 2-plus hours long epic at the tender age of thirteen. Yes, thirteen. Anyway, age aside, Bale' performance here is one of his very best firstly because of how natural he is at going between the phases of young Jamie Graham's life. Like in Rescue Dawn there is that brilliant depiction of the struggle and toil of a privileged posh schoolboy going through the horrors of prison camp, but perhaps even more so than that performance he brings out so much from what is a relatively straightforward coming-of-age tale. There's the disillusionment and wear that comes with maturity, of course, but even more impressive is the small bits of joy and bliss Bale emanates in between the harsh episodes of Jamie's life. He shows alongside the negative physical transition and disillusionment, a growing sense of of emotional maturity and compassion within the character. It's one of the greatest ever child performances and well worth the watch.

Here's a quiet, understatedly powerful scene where Bale says so much of child's innocence both lost and restored within the same scene, merging perfectly with the dark tone of it.

And a louder, emotional and equally haunting scene where at the end of one of Speilberg's excellent direcotiral scenes, Bale unleashes such unrestrained sadness that's just heartbreaking.
 
3. The Fighter

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Bale, I think, like his performance in David O'Russell's later venture American Hustle, seem to know better than anyone else in the cast, how to modulate his character between tonal variations throughout the film, and mask any potential inconsistencies with his performance. Dicky's a funny guy that's for sure, and there's several excellent scenes where this more lighthearted (if a bit questionable) approach to the character is reciprocated excellently by Bale as he delivers some fine comic work (e.g. the scenes where he's trying to con his girlfriend's family, his banter with Mark Whalberg's Micky). When the film's tone becomes more serious, Bale understands this and doesn't compromise the characterisation of the character, but rather shows how his character's 'lovable' eccentricities and habits can, in a different light, be quite excruciating and harmful. The drug addiction of Dicky is never played for laughs or tears but instead, Bale shows it to be a deteriorating aspect of the character, and makes his character's eventual transition out of prison, back into his family's arm with a renewed determination to better himself, all the more powerful. He's also just fantastic in his more conventional scenes as a boxing coach, giving inspirational pep talks in his very unique Dicky-esque way. Plus additional points for how good he is at taking the mannerisms and tics of the real-life Dicky and implanting them into his character.

2. American Psycho


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One of the most instantly quotable performances and voiceovers in movie history. A lot of that of course has to go down to Bret Easton Ellis and Guinevere Turner's writing of the character of Patrick Bateman, a character who if I'm to describe via proxy of recent film characters, is essentially Jordan Belfort or Gordon Gecko with even less of a conscience, more of a blood thirst, and yet somehow less reprehensible. Bateman's the domineering figure of American Psycho and Bale, in what was I believe his first proper leading turn as an adult, delivers a splendid dual performance as firstly, the artificial man obsessed with material, monetary, and aesthetic perfections. His intentionally forceful, phony depiction of a wealthy investment banker is kind of a subversion of the screwball comedy takes on this sort of individual, always with either a corny smile on his face, or an exaggeratedly 'serious' businessman-like look. It's a daringly stylized and satirical performance in this respect and it's glorious to watch Bateman do anything, from interacting with co-workers and his wife to partaking in exercise regimes and sexual conquests. Then there's the literal cutthroat side to the performance. The murderous, psychopathic side to Bateman is similarly one-note but Bale plays it incredibly well by being at the same time, both chillingly emotional and still quite broadly funny. To cap it all off his narrative voiceover work here to is great to, equal parts snide and sincere in its humorous nature.

 
1. The Prestige

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I can't go on too much into this performance without spoilers. In fact I don't think I can really talk at all about this performance without spoilers. Well anyway to describe it in very broad terms, Bale gives a very effective portrayal of the obsessive magician Alfred Borden. Just the drive and determination that he gives him is so effective. He has effective leading man chemistry with his two leading ladies. He merges the intensities and the sly humour of the character incredibly well. He develops a great dynamic with Hugh Jackman's Angier. And um, well...I could go on a bit more about how brilliant Bale is but that'd be spoiling things. If you've noticed and questioned why I've describing everything up to this point as 'effective' its because to say more would be giving everything away. There's just so much to this performance that one finds in re-watches of every scene because they not only show Bale leading up to his personal twist within the film, they also charter such distinct transitions and different sides to the character he's playing. But that's not all.

I've made a bit of a mess trying to describe this performance in non-spoilery terms. So I guess I'll conclude by saying this is a performance of many faces in more ways than one. At the risk of sounding very cryptic it's a multiplicity of duplicities that only works fully once you've watched the whole film, but boy is it marvellous when it does.

10. Batman Begins
9. 3:10 to Yuma
8. American Hustle
7. The Dark Knight Rises
6. Out of the Furnace

(I need to rewatch The Machinist)

Hardy:

Hon. Mention: Warrior

I have to mention this performance as it's a great example of a 'lived in' Hardy character as opposed to one of his fascinating character creations (which I love of course, obviously). Anyway, Hardy is just wonderful here in one of his most 'classic' turns as a MMA fighter striving to redeem himself and his alcoholic father (an excellent Nick Nolte) from their dark pasts. It's nothing overly complex but he gives an appropriately physical, domineering performance that wholeheartedly embraces the viewer and compels you to root for him.

5. The Revenant

I suppose the only thing really holding Hardy down a bit on this list is the fact that the role of John Fitzgerald is a supporting one. One with substantial screentime and focus though, and Hardy really takes advantage of the opportunity to, in the fantastic year of 2015, play another distinctly unique Hardy character. Fitzgerald's a savage man whose sole purpose and drive in life is to survive, but he variates this from say, the survival instincts of Max Rockatansky, by his overt portrayal of Fitzgerald as an entirely selfish, yet not unjustifiably so, sort. Each movement, each hateful glare and guttural growl shows us just how intensely self-orientated and merciless he is in all walks of life, and yet he's oh so very human. Leonardo DiCaprio's excellent in the role of Hugh Glass (and perhaps I've been a bit overly harsh on his performance), but I can't help but feel Hardy steals the show with his brilliant portrayal of self-justified psychopathy, a scintillating portrayal of a man who thinks by doing horrible deeds, he is acting for the greater good. And that monologue he delivers about God being squirrel is yet another classic Hardy moment. Pitch-perfect supporting turn that would be my win for 2015 if not for Benicio del Toro and Sylvester Stallone.

4. Bronson

Hardy's turn as notorious criminal Charles Bronson in Bronson is an equally impressive physical performance, but this time round not nearly as straightforward a character. Much of the performance is a literal stage performance, performing and narrating to an audience the story of his life. There's something so compelling about these very, very 'meta' scenes as we get such entertaining insight into the mind and times of Charles Bronson. It's clearly a showcase for Hardy's talents as we watch him deliver monologue after strange performance after monologue and none of it feels forced, or out of place, because they all just add so much to Charles Bronson the man. Effectively a form of character set-up for the rest of the film, where we follow Bronson in his 'real life' escapades in prison and his criminal activities outside of it. There's that eccentric brand of intensity which the man himself is most known for that Hardy brings to the performance, as well as a sense of disconnect with society that makes him stand apart even more; and in prison each increasingly strange act and opportunity for violence is relished by Hardy as he gives such a spectacular performance as Charles Bronson, who you can't take your eyes off even when he is doing the most outrageously odd things.

 
3. Legend

One of the greatest examples of playing for two in film history. It's a performance that, like so many of Hardy's, requires re-watches to properly appreciate (same goes for the film). Technically perhaps Hardy's most complex bit of work, since he not only has to make both Kray brothers distinct in their own right, he also has to make it convincing that they'd have such a strong connection through their bloodline that they'd do anything for one another and thus, has to bring subtle similarities into his performance as well. Well suffice to say Hardy manages that all and bit extra too. As Reggie he's a charismatic ball of swagger and sass, and carefully underplays a sensitive, moving romance with Emily Browning's Frances, even if Browning's performance itself is a bit underwhelming. What's even more effective than this exterior of gangster posturing is the gradual progression of his character into a rather more uncouth, despicable sort as Hardy gradually peels away the layers of likability to reveal the monster lurking inside Reggie. And of course as Ron Kray, the 'nuts' twin brother (though is either of them really sane?), Hardy completely disappears into this complete monstrosity of a man, both unnervingly scary and absolutely hilarious. He ensures that Ron is an unforgettable blustering brute of a man with the vocal and physical touches he gives to the character, but also adds a bit of depth to the man to show that while Ron Kray is definitely a murderous, brutal bastard, he might not be that much worse than his brother after all.

2. The Drop

Like Christian Bale in The Prestige, another performance which just keeps giving upon rewatches, but may also perplex the viewer upon first viewing. Perhaps Hardy's most subtle performance of all, it's all about restraint and careful characterization here as Hardy paints the picture of Bob Saginowski, low-key bartender whose days are spent quietly tending to his Uncle Marv's (a magnificent James Gandolfini in his final film performance) whims, acting as a go-between for illegal drugs, and going to church without taking communion, and who changes his life around with the appearance of a maltreated, wounded dog on his doorstep.

First off, the most obvious great thing about this performance is how Hardy plays off the other actors in the film. With Marv there's a seething resentment portrayed by Gandolfini which Hardy counteracts with a subdued, but still palatable, sense of pride and incredulousness at his Uncle's delusions of grandeur at being a criminal 'somebody'. With Noomi Rapace as his next-door neighbour he's incredibly likable and sweet in showing this curiousity and fascination with her, and a tentative attraction the two actors work wonderfully towards. With Matthias Schoenaerts' Eric Deeds, a loud, hotshot thug he excellent blends his low-key style to match the scary, psychopathic intimidation techniques of Deeds, while also building up his character's hidden resentment and hate of the brute. And with the pit bull the two are just so perfectly matched and adorable. By himself he gives an incredibly calculated piece of work which never feels like it, acting as a superb 'hero' for the film before ultimately subverting it all with perhaps the finest 10 or so minutes of his career in the closing moments of the film. He fully earns both the audience's fears and sympathies in this breathtaking performance which finds complexity behind apparent simplicity, and is a great example of a small-scale performance like the film, but a great one nevertheless.
 
1. Locke

Tom Hardy's biggest challenge of his career (so far, at least), I think, has been Locke. The film is a one-man show in lieu of Cast Away, The Martian, however the closest comparison I can find is the Ryan Reynolds-starring Buried in that both actors are limited in terms of mobility in some way, Reynolds by being buried six feed deep, Hardy by being behind the wheel driving for the whole duration of the film. It's a recipe for something incredibly boring if put into the wrong hands, but instead Hardy turns a full 80 minutes of a man driving and talking from behind the wheel something very, very special. There's just something about that screen presence of his (which I delve into a bit more detail here, http://actorvsactor.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/why-tom-hardy-is-modern-day-combination.html), that makes just watching him muse about the transcendent quality of his work in the concrete industry, his emotional dealings with his wife, his poignant interchanges with his sons, his arguments with his boss, chastising and praising of his co-workers, his comforting and palatable discomfort at the mother of his illegitimate child he is driving to witness the birth of, and perhaps most brilliant of all his expressions of hatred and pride at his envisioned dead father in the backseat, so darn amazing to watch.

Everything about this performance is perfect. From that kooky Welsh accent to the gradually brimming emotions, to the relationships he develops with so many different characters over the phone, and the contrast he brings between the character's earthly, grounded mannerisms and the almost transcendental quality to his musings, and determination to do 'what is right', makes this, period, one of the greatest performances of all-time.

10. Wuthering Heights
9. The Dark Knight Rises
8. Mad Max: Fury Road
7. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy