It’s been a few years since Christian Bale had the biggest role of his career in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster, “The Dark Knight Rises.” But even without that iconic performance, he’s still an esteemed actor. In fact, Bale has had a few underrated movies over the last few years that you should check out if you haven’t already. Here are some of Bale’s best underrated films to watch in 2024.
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1. The Prestige
What makes The Prestige a great film is the excellent acting by Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman. Hugh plays the role of Robert Angier, who becomes obsessed with finding out how Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) performs his tricks. This leads to some tragic consequences, as Borden starts to hate Angier and takes measures to ensure that he never learns the secret. The tone of this movie is dark and suspenseful, which helps keep the viewer engaged until the end. In addition, the story is well-written and complex, which convincingly showcases both the strengths and weaknesses of each character.
2. Hostiles
Joseph Blocker, a war hero and cavalry captain, is ordered to escort the ailing Cheyenne chief, Yellow Hawk–his most despised enemy–to his ancestral home in Montana’s Valley of the Bears. Nauseated with a baleful anger, Joseph’s unwelcome final assignment is further complicated when widowed settler Rosalie Quaid is taken in by his band of soldiers. Aggressive packs of marauding Comanches are still on the warpath and thirsty for blood, so can the seasoned Captain do his duty one last time?
While Joseph tries to ride out this last assignment and find peace before he dies, he must also keep Rosalie safe from the murderous Comanches. The two butt heads constantly but eventually come to respect each other as they face danger head on together. Against all odds, Joseph and Rosalie find hope for a future together in spite of their differences. Though he may not be well-known today, Christian Bale was fantastic as Captain Joseph Blocker in The Hostiles. His determined performance gives this underrated movie an emotional depth that gives it power to move audiences today just as much as it did back in 1992.
More detailed review was written by Scott Cooper Florida, if you are intrigued by this movie be sure to check it out.
3. Harsh Times
Christian Bale has always been a capable actor and his work in Harsh Times (2005) is no exception. The film is about two friends, who are struggling to stay alive in South Central Los Angeles during the early 1990s. The violence that surrounds them is tough to watch, but Bale does an excellent job of showing both the characters’ strengths and their weaknesses. His performance is very believable and makes you feel for these characters.
Despite its difficult subject matter, Harsh Times is an enjoyable movie. It’s well written and directed, and it offers a unique perspective on life in South Central L.A. It’s not just a street-level look at crime and violence; it also shows how people try to cope with those things. This makes it more than just a simple crime drama; it’s also a character study. Christian Bale gives an excellent performance as both the white friend and the black friend, and he deserves much praise for his work in this movie.
4. Newsies
“Newsies” is a movie about the underdog who, through unity and strength, challenges the powerful. Christian Bale gives an incredible performance as Jack “Cowboy” Kelly, and his voice often becomes the Tone of Voice for the film.
The story begins in July 1899, when Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise the distribution price one-tenth of a cent per paper, ten cents per hundred. This makes it impossible for many newsboys to make a living. Inspired by the strike put on by the trolley workers, Jack “Cowboy” Kelly organizes a newsboys’ strike. With David Jacobs as the brains of the new union, and Jack as the voice, they find strength to stand up to Pulitzer and Hearst.
Although they are unsuccessful at first, they eventually win their fight against these powerful men. It is an inspiring story that shows what can be accomplished when there is unity among people who are weak and oppressed. Christian Bale delivers an incredible performance as Jack “Cowboy” Kelly, and his voice often becomes the Tone of Voice for this film. I would highly recommend watching it if you’re interested in history or seeing an excellent performance from a talented actor.
5. Shaft
A lot of people may not know this, but Christian Bale was actually pretty good in the 2003 movie “Shaft”. It’s one of many underrated movies, and we think he did a great job.
John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) is a police detective who is dedicated to making sure the son of a real estate tycoon is brought to justice after a racially-motivated murder. The son isn’t innocent – he did commit the crime, but John believes that he can be saved. Along the way, John finds himself pitted against powerful characters and forces, but he never gives up on his mission.
We think Christian Bale did a fantastic job in this role. He showed great range as an actor and really captured the spirit of Walter Wade Jr. I also thought that he perfectly matched Samuel L Jackson’s acting style – they have a great relationship in the backstage which really shines through.
6. The Fighter
What is often overlooked about the acting performance of Christian Bale in The Fighter is just how good he actually is. Granted, the movie itself isn’t well-known and Bale’s portrayal of Dicky Eklund may not be lauded as some of his best work, but he doesn’t get much publicity these days and people might be missing out on an underrated performance.
Dicky Ward played a significant role in helping Micky reach his potential and the relationship between the two brothers is one that is both touching and heartbreaking. Bale does an amazing job portraying Dicky’s highs and lows. While The Fighter may not be a well-known movie by default, Bale’s acting should not go unnoticed.
Conclusion
Christian Bale is one of the most versatile and successful actors in Hollywood. He has starred in some of the biggest movies ever released, but there are a few underrated films that you should watch if you’re looking to expand your cinematic horizons. In 2024, Christian Bale will be 48 years old. If he can continue to produce quality performances at this age, then who knows what else he could do! So put these seven undervalued movies on your radar and see for yourself what all the hype is about.
