Do the low grosses of crime drama Harsh Times, the directorial debut of Training Day scribe David Ayers, spell… well, harsh times for Batman Begins star Christian Bale, upon whose name the film is largely being sold? Well, in a word no. More likely, Harsh Times is just indicative of the new trend of
blockbuster summer entertainment, in which headlining doesn’t necessarily translate
into tabloid-selling, movie-opening cult of personality. Actors like
Bale, Tobey Maguire and others are beloved in their comic book flicks, and
frequently respected in other work, but not always a massive draw in and of
themselves. For the full piece exploring this notion, from FilmStew, click here.