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Harsh Times
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Harsh Times (2005) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   22,795 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 18% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
David Ayer
Writer (WGA):
David Ayer (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Harsh Times on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 November 2006 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama | Thriller more
Plot:
A tough-minded drama about two friends in South Central Los Angeles and the violence that comes between them. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(15 articles)
Harsh Times in Sun Valley
 (From The Wrap. 8 July 2009, 11:17 PM, PDT)

Christian Bale's Rollercoaster Career
 (From Cinematical. 4 July 2009, 7:02 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Training Day... but with a better script, better actors, and a better director more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Christian Bale ... Jim Luther Davis

Freddy Rodríguez ... Mike Alonzo

Eva Longoria Parker ... Sylvia (as Eva Longoria)
Chaka Forman ... Toussant

Tammy Trull ... Marta

J.K. Simmons ... Agent Richards

Michael Monks ... Agent Hollenbeck

Samantha Esteban ... Letty

Tania Verafield ... Patty

Noel Gugliemi ... Flaco
Adriana Millan ... Rita

Geovanny Corvera ... Wilo (as Geo Corvera)

Cesar Garcia ... Listo

Terry Crews ... Darrell

Emilio Rivera ... Eddy
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for strong violence, language and drug use.
Runtime:
116 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Spanish
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Filming Locations:
Baja California, Mexico more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
"Emilio Rivera" (Eddy) and "Paul Renteria" (Ranchero) who appear in the Mexican Bar Scene, appeared yearly in the early 1990's in the Historic Chicano Play "The Silver Dollar" performed in front of live patrons in the rough and tumble Silver Dollar Bar on famous Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles, CA, which commemorated the shooting and actual death site of LA Times Correspondent Ruben Salazar on August 29, 1970, during the East LA Riots. In the late 1990's they appeared on screen as Brothers without realizing they were in the same film, until the screening at the American Film Institute in Hollywood, CA. Their 4th collaboration was in 2007's Toyota Tundra "Band Roadies" Spanish Television Commercial & Latino Concert Series. Off screen, Emilio and Paul speak to High School students about Acting & Life Issues, participate in Celebrity Softball Games, and can often be seen rolling on the streets of Los Angeles supporting Children's Toy Runs & Various Fundraisers on their Harley-Davidson Motorcycles. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When Jim and Mike are driving in the car, Mike opens two bottles of beer for himself and Jim. However you can see that Jim's beer has already been opened and is missing it's crown cap. more
Quotes:
Jim Davis: I see dumb people. more
Movie Connections:
Features "Te voy a enseñar a querer" (2004) more
Soundtrack:
Boyz-N-The-Hood more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
148 out of 224 people found the following comment useful:-
Training Day... but with a better script, better actors, and a better director, 13 September 2005
9/10
Author: boba1_fett1 from Canada

An intense film, that FEELS a lot like Training Day, but with more of a gritty approach, and with actors who seem actually believable... which makes sense since it's based on the real life experiences of the director/writer and people he knows.

Rodriguez (who was at the World Premiere) and Bale give stellar performances. Rodriguez, if this film is well distributed, will get huge exposure and will likely go far. His performance was incredible, believable, and emotional. Bale continues to show that he's one of the best in Hollywood. Sure, he's playing a slightly psychotic, mentally unstable fellow, similar to a number of previous roles he's played, but he does it so well.

Ayer has improved as a writer, and considering this is his feature film debut as a director, he did fantastically. His knowledge as a director shone through in the Q&A after the film. He also made sure to mention the Cannes labs, where he worked on the script for this film, and how it helped him improve as a writer.

Go see it. It's intense, well written, incredibly performed, and is a thinker of a film.

Was the above comment useful to you?
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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Harsh Times (2005)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Would you have gone to mexico with Jim or stayed w the chica? mattmattchu
How did it end? (Obvious Spoilers) Dodraug1
The Spanish in the film is not subtitled? Happy_Evil_Dude
Jim's gun? bwgdmoyer
In the Bar wearing the vests/translation dougee_fresh
EXCELLENT movie!!!!! AlreddyGone
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