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Christian Bale remixed

Posted by Ty Burr February 4, 2009 09:31 AM

christian_bale_V.jpg

By now you've surely heard or heard about the "Dark Knight" star having a four-minute, ripely foul-mouthed diva fit on the set of "Terminator Salvation" -- the incident occurred last summer but after TMZ.com broke the audio two days ago, it proliferated like headlice across the internet. (You can follow the TMZ link or listen to it at one of the many youtube'd versions; clear the room of small children and animals first).

Clearly, modern pop culture now lies in wait for something like this -- famous person goes nutzoid, revealing "real self" beneath smooth corporate exterior of celebrity persona -- and then mutates it into a million technological pieces. What's notable about the Bale thing, even more than similar rips in the star matrix like Mel Gibson's roadside meltdown, Alec Baldwin's cellphone parenting techniques, David O. Russell's on-set tantrum, Vanessa Hudgens' photo mishap, Tom Cruise's scientology recruitment video, etc., etc., is the dizzying speed with which the Bale iterations poured out of the interweb, each seized upon and reported (much as I'm doing here) in a fractal daisy-chain of mass schadenfreude.

So within 24 hours of the TMZ scoop, Urban Dictionary had coined the term "bale-out," Jimmy Kimmel had taped a parody version for his show, and there appeared a club remix of the rant by L.A. knob-twiddler RevoLucian. I'm sure there are more; feel free to post them in the comments section.

The impulse behind all this is simple: Ooh, fresh meat -- how can we play with it? Simply emailing a link to the original celebrity misbehavior to your friends is no longer enough; you now either have to create something new from the pieces (club remix, Youtube movie to go with the audio, whatever) and then ship it out to be forwarded and judged by the world at large. Or, at the very least, you must acknowledge your own up-to-the-nanosecond hipness by linking to the new versions (um, much as I'm doing here).

This is how stardom has changed in the 21st century: it's now a technological cargo cult in which we own any and all chunks of a celebrity not controlled by the official machine. There's an element of revenge to this, of revelation, of taking back what's ours from the publicists and handlers and studios (because, at bottom, we always believe movie stars belong to us and us alone). There's also a dark delight in seeing the grotty underside of celebrity, because it confirms so many things for so many people: that stars are just like us, or (more interesting) that stars are worse than us and should never have presumed to climb on that high horse of fame.

But that part's nothing new: The complicated cultural love/hate we have for our mass idols goes back to the Fatty Arbuckle scandal and before. What is new is that we have the tools to speak to it, to play with it, and to gain a measure of borrowed stardom for ourselves.

31 comments so far...
  1. WHO CARES!

    Posted by SICKOFENTERTAINMENT NEWS February 4, 09 11:43 AM
  1. Christain Bale sucked as batman what was up with his raspy voice as he changed into batman. Good actor hell. And his rant just shows his true colors. Hollywood bocott Christain Bale, because I will not watch any movie with him in it. In a time where people are lucky to have a job he sure as hell should consider himself among those lucky ones and not threaten other crew members jobs. I will tell everyone I know what a bad actor he is and what an asshole he is and I am sure I am not the only one that feels this way. Hey Christain, did you forget who you are making the movies for?

    Posted by James February 4, 09 11:52 AM
  1. so true...very good summary of what has happened here, though with more of a light-hearted spin than I care to give it.

    while i can't help but be entertained by Bale's tantrum and what a colossal p***k the guy must be, it's sad that we spend our time as a culture dissecting people who live in the limelight. most of us, if faced with constant cameras, lights, and microphones, wouldn't fare nearly as well as bale has up until now. it's fun to watch morons on American idol and their little precious melodrama as they're reamed by a committee, right, so why is this different?. everyone has become the worst kind of critic. mass entertainment itself isn't healthy; it's even worse when we act like we're personally invested in it because there's apparently nothing better to do.

    Posted by FJ February 4, 09 12:01 PM
  1. ...and hopefully this story dissipates as fast as it materialized

    Posted by Joefo February 4, 09 12:18 PM
  1. Come on, let's not overthink this thing. This isn't the first time Bale has gotten "into it." There is simply no excuse for such a tirade. If he gets hit in the media now, he deserves it. Whoope Goldberg says Mr. Bale must have reacted the way he did because he is serious about his "art." Listen, "The Machinist" was art. Robot 14 or whatever they're calling this new action movie is not art. It's a paycheck for Mr. Bale and that's all. And he has got to get a grip or eventually he's going to pull an O.J. on somebody and that'll be the end of the excuses....

    Posted by Larry February 4, 09 12:39 PM
  1. There must be 50 ways to leave your Scientology master
    You just slip out the back, Jack
    Make a new plan, Stan
    You don't need to be coy, Roy
    Just get yourself free
    Hop on the bus, Gus
    You don't need to discuss much
    Just drop off the key, Lee
    and get yourself free

    Posted by Robert Lindblad February 4, 09 01:16 PM
  1. I must take the side of Christian Bale. He is the best actor around today. Not only does he prove his talent in big movies like The Dark Knight, but he does an amazing job in indie films like The Machinist. The guy he yelled at deserved it! Why was he on that set while they were working on a scene? I would not like that if someone screwed up my performance on the job. Why are people against Christian Bale? If it was someone like Brad Pitt, he would have been forgiven by the public and understood. Everyone, leave Christian Bale alone!!!

    Posted by Rosella Weigand February 4, 09 03:14 PM
  1. The gesture he's making - that's the British version of the middle finger, isn't it? I feel like I saw Hugh Laurie do it in a blooper reel once.

    Posted by Nick February 4, 09 03:25 PM
  1. The remixer's name is RevoLucian (with an "a"!), by the way.

    Fixed; thanks -- TB

    Posted by TJ February 4, 09 04:10 PM
  1. I don't think people realize just how serious the movie business is. It seems as though people think acting is easy, but even the simplest roles are very difficult to pull off right. If Christian Bale was performing an aggressive scene, or while in character and had a lot of intense feelings, it seems natural that some of that could carry over into real life particularly if he was interrupted. Considering the fact that Terminator 4: Salvation is a pretty intense movie by the pretense alone, I can imagine playing John Conner would be difficult.

    Now, even if this is the case, there is nothing to excuse Christian Bale's actions. He needs to control his temper a lot better. However, based on the tapes, it seems as though there were several times that the DP muttered something under his breath which pissed Christian off even more. Not saying that it justifies it, but it certainly didn't make the situation any better.

    Christian Bale is a good actor; his role in American Pshyco was dead on and he has been the best actor for Batman by far (they computerized his voice for the raspiness and personally, I like it). I have enjoyed his work and his art (and yes, it is art). Yes, the man has a problem; but the media and the public are making this much bigger and worst than it really is.

    Posted by Will Stevens February 4, 09 04:12 PM
  1. Bale is a bastard, but hey hes made dance music actually worth listening too for once in a while.

    Posted by Tobias February 4, 09 04:14 PM
  1. well done bale top man !!! working with idiots does piss you off !!!! and he is a top actor sack the lot of them hahaha

    Posted by alan wales February 4, 09 06:10 PM
  1. The DP - not just some lighting guy was the a-hole who WALKED ON THE SET while filming! Where were the ADs to stop him???!!!

    So the guy lost his temper. Get over it.

    Posted by Kristin February 4, 09 07:10 PM
  1. Come on, everyone...actors are real people. Everyone has freaked out on the job at one point. The difference is here, someone with access to the recording obviously sought to publicize the outburst. Why? Probably to villify Mr. Bale for personal reasons, or maybe, just maybe, to create a giant viral media stir (are the spin doctors getting smarter, perhaps?)

    Posted by suzy February 4, 09 10:41 PM
  1. People sure do love judging other people.

    Posted by Kim February 5, 09 12:05 AM
  1. Christian Bale needs to take some time off, and get himself together. He's apparently stressed to the MAX, and should not be taking it out on the people around him. I wish him the best.

    Posted by Elaine van der Linden February 5, 09 02:56 AM
  1. Christian is sooo perfect. I read here (www.projectweightloss.com) about the tough workout he's been through when preparing for his role in The Dark Night and, wow, no wonder he's got a superhero body.

    Posted by Helen J. February 5, 09 05:35 AM
  1. It is a shame that Bale has to be put in the situation where he is being hassled while he works. He is a good actor from what I have seen. I don't blame him for loosing it once in a while! If most people were under the microscope every waking moment there would be some pretty embarrassing footage....at least most people with passion, which is what a good actor has to have!

    Posted by Steve6f8eh February 5, 09 08:21 AM
  1. Anyone who thinks CB is a light-weight actor - see him in Werner Herzog's Rescue Dawn.

    Posted by mdiehl February 5, 09 10:24 AM
  1. i love you christian bale!!!! all he needs is a good massage!!!

    Posted by nico February 5, 09 10:33 AM
  1. Christian Bale is an ass. He played Batman and John Connor. Please, give me a break. He beat his mother and sister. Then went bezerk on crew member. He's an actor. His job is to memorize lines and pretend he's someone else. He also is a terrible actor with his stupid Batman voice. What a loser. Actors are the most self-important people, as if their job really matters. I hope he is black balled so he never works again. I mean, Batman did not make that much money because of him. It made that money because it's Batman which is a pretty safe bet.

    Posted by Jared February 5, 09 12:07 PM
  1. To Rosella above yeah it wasn't just anyone on the set but the Director Of Photography of the film. I am a DP myself and most DP's know better than to get into an actor's eye line while the scene is rolling (true for anyone on set, all crew know this well at their peril, especially the higher the profile of the actor involved). While I do sympathize with Bale's attempt to do his acting without distraction it isn't as though Bale doesn't blow takes anyway. The first time the DP did this he should have taken the cameraman aside and talked to him rather than blow up the second time it happened. The DP may have just got a little carried away doing his job but he WAS doing his job and should be respected for that. In my opinion Bale was the extreme unprofessional "amateur" here. You don't undermine anyone on the crew's authority by screaming at them in front of the whole crew. My respect for anyone who does, including directors, goes down the toilet instantly except under certain circumstances. I find there are precious few excuses for low class poor behavior and eviscerating crew people publicly on set. It is an abuse of power that should be punished but usually isn't.

    Posted by PaulG February 5, 09 12:19 PM
  1. totally disagree with the author here. put yourselves in the shoes of the poor sod that was at the receiving end? NOBODY deserves to be talked to like that. if a cleaner in your building talked to you like that when you stepped on their wet floor, they would be fired, right? why should some famous dick be judged by different standards? hollywood egos need a MASSIVE check. i say down with bale and all other self aggrandizing sub human actor species out there. the funniest part and most tragic is the minders around him saying, "we get it christian." licking his ass. what a sad reflection of how we build celebrities into untouchables, they take home millions of dollars and the rest of us are left mopping up the floors. if i were Disney i'd give the lighting technician a free holiday for him and his family. cos man, he deserves it.

    Ty responds: Angry much, ego check?

    Posted by ego check February 5, 09 02:10 PM
  1. Lighten up. This whole thing is funny and entertaining. And the remix is absolute comedic genius!

    Posted by Travis February 5, 09 04:58 PM
  1. Very disappointed in Bale as a human being. Will never look at him the same again unless he apologizes publicly for treating someone else that way. The fact that there other assholes in the film industry blowing up this way doesn't make it alright. You don't measure an act by other lower standards to justify it. That's lazy and that's what's wrong with this country. Doctors, soldiers, law enforcement all with more important jobs than actors you could say, do not act this way in much higher tension situations when someone makes a mistake. Maybe all these people who make excuses for him don't get to see much integrity and civility in their lives so for them its normal. I guess that's why the world hates us. Because we are a country of rude assholes and we think it's perfectly fine.

    Posted by Fries Ubersi February 5, 09 05:32 PM
  1. What a tosser Bale is. If he walked into a boozer in Wales or England for that matter giving large like that he'd be beat down real quick. Hope he reads this and realises he aint fooling everyone - lots of people now see him as a twat. Who the hell does he think he is talking to somebody like that. I wish the DP had nutted him probably see Bale cry. The welsh do have big gobs but they aint no good at fighting - history proves that much. Bale you weak actor, no self control pussy.

    Posted by Richard Lacy February 6, 09 09:43 AM
  1. You people are ridiculous, as soon as someone decides to pay you millions for your talents then feel free to judge. Bale has apologized publicly and very humbly on LA KROQ radio station... Lets not forget that he is an ACTOR, who uses EMOTION to draw reality to his roles. He was in the process of acting out an intense battle scene, and his emotion got the best of him. It is his intensity that makes him an incredible actor.
    American Psycho? The best Batman ever? Come on, cut the guy a break. None of you ever lose your tempers right? Never yell at someone more than they deserve? I know people personally who worked on that movie and it was an isolated incident not a common occurrence, he is known as a professional throughout the industry, so cut the guy a break. As soon as any of you put out a performance matching American Psycho, then talk trash.
    All of you who say "Hollywood should stop making movies with him or I wont see them" I'm sure the movie execs will get right on that... MORONS.
    T4 is still going to gross about a billion dollars... How much did the last thing you trash talkers did bring in?


    Posted by TC February 6, 09 06:32 PM
  1. Look, I don't care if the DP messed up, I don't care if Bale is a pressured celebrity, I don't care if he had a rough day. If anyone else in any other job had ranted and raved like that, he or she would have been fired. Period. No second chances. If you did something stupid or made a mistake, you think you should be cussed out and yelled at? You really think that's something deserved? Bale chose this career and can work hard on it, but he needs to be professional. He's meant to be a role model and doing bulls**t like he did recently is uncalled for.

    Posted by Belinda Roddie February 6, 09 06:55 PM
  1. Bale is clearly a douche bag. I used to love him, but between this incident and the whole assault thing this summer, I have lost all respect and admiration for him. He is an actor for the love of God! He doesn't save lives, or the world. And even if he did, he still has no right to talk to people in such a manner. I hope he fades from memory and his career takes a steep nosedive. Perhaps someday karma will get him and his uppance will come!

    Posted by Amy Bower February 6, 09 10:04 PM
  1. This is so simply. Never give this movie he is acting in or any other movie that he acts in your money. So he has a bad day, is stressed out. So what, suck it up. We all have bad days, or stressed or in a bad mood. He's an actor for cryin out loud. The entertainment community gets way to many excuses for bad behavior. If most of us did that in our day to day jobs, or even on the street, we'd be fired or locked up. Stop making excuses! Take ownership of being an inconsiderate fool. Anyone who acts like this needs to suffer the consequences of their actions.

    Posted by Roberta Ray February 7, 09 12:39 AM
  1. I just love how people make excuses for inexcusable behavior just because they think they are cute or a good actor. NO EXCUSES! When are people going to become responsible for their own actions again in this society?

    Posted by Rob June 12, 09 05:31 AM
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Ty Burr is a film critic with The Boston Globe.
Wesley Morris is a film critic with The Boston Globe.
Janice Page is a freelance movie reviewer for The Boston Globe.
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