This is a branching out a bit of movie reviews, but this has at least something to do with a movie on my Holiday List, “The Fighter.” Christian Bale plays Dickie Ward, Mikcey Ward’s (played by Mark Wahlberg) younger crack head brother. I was reading an interview with Bale in Details Magazine, and I just had to voice my opinion on the content of the interview, and Bale’s demeanor throughout. .
First of all, Bale INSISTS upon the interview being in the Q&A format. Secondly, he doesn’t let the reporter even ask questions. He had to perform a second interview just to get useable material. Bale then goes on and on about how he has such a sissy job, and basically complains about his good fortune. Poor you, one of the most sought after actors of this decade. Poor you with all of your money and fame.
He then goes on to say he wishes he could never do another interview in his life because he thinks they are a waste of time and take away from the character. Uh, in order for your movie to be successful (you know, so you keep being famous and rich and actually cast in more projects) you have to do press junkets. Sure, reporters could come up with more creative questions sometimes, but this is your JOB. You get paid more than the President of the United States, and you are bitching about having to talk to someone who is showing an interest in your life or projects? Please.
This is the part that bothers me the most. The reporter asks him about his role in The Machinist, in which Bale lost 65 pounds so he would be believable as a junkie on screen. He famously gained 85 pounds back immediately after this role for Batman Begins. The reporter asked how he has the stamina and will to put himself through that kind of thing, and Bale gives the most ridiculous answer. So ridiculous that it’s not even worth repeating. Bale reportedly will leave sets for hours at a time, with no one knowing where he is. He says he’s “preparing for his role.” Also known as method acting.
Method acting is a crock of psychobabble bullshit. I think Bale is a terrific actor, but I have a feeling this “method acting” is another way of saying, “I’m a psycho who happens to be attractive.” IT reminds me of that Saturday Night Live sketch from the early 90s with John Lovtiz and Phil Hartmen. Lovitz is this snooty actor who quite obviously cannot act, but does very ridiculous things much to the delight of Hartmen. To each of these ridiculous things (such as bending your finger in half to make it as though it has disappeared), Lovitz would reveal his secret and exclaim, “ACTING!!!”
Here’s the thing: viewers (aka people who pay for the movies you are in, Bale) want to see people they like. They want to see people who are good actors, but don’t take themselves so seriously. If you don’t stop being such a pompous windbag jerk, people will stop seeing your movies all together. So that means no yelling at people for getting a boom mic in the shot, no yelling at your mom in public places, and loosen up in your interviews. Get a life.
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