This week, Christian Bale is taking on one of his most monstrous roles to date as Frank in The Bride!, a new film by director Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Yet not even Frankenstein’s Monster can compare with Bale’s earlier role as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho.
Bale’s an extremely versatile performer, and he’s played both heroes and villains, as well as a handful of real people over the last two decades.
To celebrate the actor’s new film, Watch With Us is sharing the five best Christian Bale performances, ranked.
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5. ‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)
Bale was overshadowed by two great performances in The Dark Knight: Aaron Eckhart‘s charismatic turn as Harvey Dent and Heath Ledger‘s Oscar-winning performance as the Joker, one of the most malevolent versions of that comic-book villain to date. Ledger and Eckhart elevated that film, but we should never lose sight of the fact that Bale was a great Batman and an even better Bruce Wayne.
Many of Bale’s best scenes in this film take place with Bruce out of costume as he slips between his playboy persona and his Dark Knight identity without even putting on a mask. Sure, Bale’s gravelly Batman voice invited some mockery, but the intensity and vulnerability that Bale brought to the role can’t be denied. When the Joker finds a way to hurt Bruce through someone he loves, Bale portrays him as a man undone by the choices he had to make. And he still gets back up to be the hero that Gotham needs.
The Dark Knight is streaming on HBO Max.
4. ‘The Prestige’ (2006)
There’s something about Bale’s performance as Alfred Borden that isn’t revealed until very late in the film, which is why we won’t spoil it here. But when re-watching The Prestige, subtle gestures and body language may convey which persona he’s portraying. Christopher Nolan‘s adaptation of Christopher Priest‘s novel casts Bale’s character as a working-class magician who is locked in a bitter rivalry with Hugh Jackman‘s Robert Angier.
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The film gives Alfred and Robert some real reasons to hate each other, including Olivia Wenscombe (Scarlett Johansson), a woman who is intimately involved in both of their lives. More than anything else, Robert and Alfred want to outshine each other and become the most legendary magician of the late 19th century. Their tale of mutual self-destruction left quite an impression, and The Prestige attaining cult classic status soon after its premiere.
The Prestige is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.
3. ‘American Psycho’ (2000)
What does it say about Christian Bale that one of his most convincing roles was that of a merciless serial killer with vacant eyes? It’s a masterclass of a performance, and his turn in American Psycho makes his character, Patrick Bateman, seem like someone who can only pretend to be human.
Patrick’s true nature will inevitably be discovered, but it’s still shocking to see the lengths he’ll go to meet his need for sexually charged violence. There are slasher flick monsters that aren’t as scary as Patrick, and that’s why this is one of Bale’s best performances.
American Psycho is streaming on Prime Video.
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2. ‘Ford v Ferrari’ (2009)
Ford v Ferrari was one of the rare opportunities for Bale to use his real accent in a film. In this biopic, Bale plays Ken Miles, a race car driver and designer who finds himself drawn into the feud between Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) and Enzo Ferrari (Remo Girone). With backing from Ford, Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) recruits Miles to help him create a Ford racing car that can outperform Ferrari’s top vehicles.
As portrayed by Bale, Miles is often a jerk and very hard to like. Bale definitely doesn’t play him like a saint, but he does give Miles just enough humanity that he remains a compelling figure even though he can’t hold back his impulsive anger.
Ford v Ferrari is streaming on Netflix.
1. ‘The Fighter’ (2010)
Bale’s greatest performance came in a film where he was clearly the second lead to Mark Wahlberg, but it led to Bale’s first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. This is a biopic about boxer Mickey Ward (Wahlberg), as well as Mickey’s older half-brother, Dicky Eklund (Bale).
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To prepare himself for his role as a man hopelessly addicted to crack, Bale dropped a noticeable amount of weight. He also seems to disappear in Dicky, while retaining the audience’s sympathy. This isn’t just a comeback story about Ward; it’s also about Dicky’s attempt to break free from his addiction and help his sibling become a champion in a way that Dicky couldn’t achieve during his own boxing career. It’s the best work of Bale’s career, and we still firmly believe he can deliver a performance on this level in the future.
The Fighter is streaming on Kanopy.
