He’s the movie version of Jared Fogle
As I address in a column that comes out on Friday, Christian Bale is featured in a movie you can rent, beginning today, at your local video store. It’s titled “The Machinist,” and it involves a young machine operator who is haunted by things that we aren’t sure are real.
But the movie’s content isn’t what is drawing most attention to it. What’s more important is the fact that Bale reportedly lost about 60 pounds from his 180-plus-pound frame to play the role. This is a guy who, as recent as “American Psycho,” was a bodybuilder’s dream, a guy with a body that would make even Hugh Jackman jealous.
And then he’s the new Batman, too. He’ll don the Dark Knight’s trademark costume on June 15 for “Batman Begins,” Christopher Nolan’s prequel to what Tim Burton gave us back in 1989.
Bale isn’t the first actor ever to gain or lose a substantial amount of weight to play a role. Others include Matt Damon , Vincent D’Onofrio, Charlize Theron , Adrien Brody, Minnie Driver and, most of all, Robert De Niro , who gained 50 pounds for the 1980 boxing film “Raging Bull.” But even given the admiration you have to have for the self discipline that these actors need just to be able to lose and/or gain all that weight and then work to get back to their natural state, the question remains: Is this acting?
In the case of De Niro, you can argue that the answer is yes. He has, after all, won two Oscars – one for “Raging Bull,” in fact. In the case of others, it’s less clear. Especially with Bale and “The Machinist.” Because when all is said and done, “The Machinist” is just a little too weird (while still being predictable) to be anything other than a curiosity.
Next thing you know, Bale is going to be doing Subway sandwich commercials.
* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Movies & More." Read all stories from this blog