Christian Bale is one of those actors who have already entered the history of cinema for his dedication to the most different roles. Not only because of the versatility of his acting, but also because of how much he is able to transform himself because of a single character.
You’ve probably seen some of the extremes he went through between movies. to star The Worker, he weighed an incredible 54 kg and had to be stopped by producers so as not to risk his health. Shortly thereafter, he reached 103 kg to participate in Cheating. In other words, he spares no efforts to do his best in front of the cameras.
It just goes to show how serious Bale is about this acting business and makes it understandable that he has become one of the most memorable names in cinema over the past decade. Not to mention, of course, his participation in major franchises and successful projects, which also helped a lot to leverage his career.
This great combination of factors made the star collect some gems in his resume. And although the recent The Pale Blue Eye is not among the most inspired projects in which he has participated, the new Netflix film is a great gateway to discover the true classics of Christian Bale.
With that in mind, check out 7 of the best movies with Christian Bale.
7. Ford vs. Ferrari
Here’s a beautiful movie for those who like cars, but give up the unbridled madness of Fast and furious. Ford vs. Ferrari is based on a true story that tells how the American manufacturer decided to challenge Ferrari’s hegemony in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1966.
And Bale lives precisely the engineer and driver who helps the manufacturer create the car made to dethrone the Italians. The problem is that, despite his genius, Ken Miles is not an easy figure and it is precisely in the frictions involving his personality and his determination to be the fastest man in the world that the best thing about the feature is.
Ford vs. Ferrari it is available on Star+.
6. The Big Bet
Director Adam McKay has become a specialist in presenting major contemporary historical events from a funnier and lighter montage, as he did in Deputy and Don’t Look Up. However, it was with The big bet that he got the formula right and thanks a lot to Bale’s work as one of his protagonists.
The film recounts the origins of the 2008 economic crisis by showing how a group of investors identified the flaws that resulted in the housing market bubble in the US. And Christian Bale plays one of those eccentric big shots who start to take advantage of this gap and make a lot of money before everything goes up in the air.
The big bet is available on Prime Video and on HBO Max.
5. The Big Trick
Before embarking on megalomaniacal projects, director Christopher Nolan bet much more on fancy scripts and great performances — such as The big trick well proves. The film tells the story of the rivalry of two rival magicians who compete to see who will be able to create the greatest illusion of all time.
In addition to having a surprising ending, the film has a Christian Bale living the great antagonist of the plot who tries to overcome his opponent at all costs and even appeals to some very absurd solutions. Hard to say without giving away any spoilers.
The big trick it is available on HBO Max.
4. The Winner
Another film where Christian Bale had to undergo a major physical transformation. To live the ex-boxer addicted to drugs Dicky Eklund, he had to leave Batman’s physique behind and go back to weighing a measly 60 kg.
But that’s not all that draws attention in the film. Based on a true story, the actor very well embodies the decline of an athlete amidst the proliferation of crack in the United States in the 1980s. to get into the rings.
The winner is available on Prime Video and not Globoplay.
3. American Psychopath
One of the great classics of Christian Bale, American Psychopath already showed in 2000 how the actor would immerse himself body and soul in a character. To live the narcissistic serial killer Patrick Bateman, he entered into a training routine and completely changed his lifestyle to achieve the same body type and even behavior of his disturbed protagonist – with the exception, of course, of the criminal habit.
The film tells the story of this businessman who has a seemingly perfect life, but which hides a much darker personality. Behind all appearances, he is a psychopath who despises everyone and everything around him and who starts to commit a series of murders at night.
In addition to Bale’s own performance, American Psychopath it also stands out for its script that does not treat this story as a classic suspense, bringing a good dose of acidic humor and that explores the mind of its protagonist.
American Psychopath is available on Star+ and not Lionsgate+.
2. Empire of the Sun
Christian Bale’s theatrical debut was in style. At just 13 years old, the then young actor was cast by director Steven Spielberg to star in Sun Empire, one of the heaviest and most touching films about the Second World War. This is because the plot is not centered on soldiers and the harshness of the front line, but focused on the reality of a boy taken prisoner by Japanese troops after occupying part of China.
Thus, the film shows the horrors of war through the eyes of this child, contrasting the harsh reality with the fantasy he projects. And, in the middle of it all, we have a very young Bale making it very clear the great actor he would become.
Sun Empire it is available on HBO Max.
1. Batman: The Dark Knight
But there’s no way to talk about Christian Bale without mentioning his passage through Batman. The actor embodied one of the most striking versions of the hero in theaters and it was in Batman the dark knight which he made clear why this is such an important character to pop culture. Not by chance, the feature is remembered to this day as one of the best comic book movies of all time.
Even though people always cite Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker, there’s no way to ignore Bale himself and his great construction of this hero divided into different personas. He very well embodied this image of millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne, contrasting with the dark and troubled figure of Batman.
Batman the dark knight it is available on HBO Max.
