The Ford V. Ferrari biography action drama just premiered in theaters in the middle of November, and it’s definitely becoming a box office hit while simultaneously landing well with critics. Starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale, Bale takes on another interesting role as the driver, Ken Miles.
Bale is pretty well-known for making drastic body transformations for roles, and this brilliant man can slay just about any role out there. From The Dark Knight to Vice, this man is about as versatile as they come. With 1 Oscar and 3 nominations under his belt, this man has quite the roster. So, in honor of this new flick, we’ve made a list of some of his best roles, ranked from most heroic to most villainous. We’re not sure what this heartthrob tackles better.
Bruce Wayne, The Dark Knight (2008)
Sure, there could be an argument made for the fact that Batman is kind of an anti-hero. Still, we’re pretty sure this character is the most heroic Bale has ever played. This movie scored a whopping 9.0/10 on IMDb, and this is the flick where Heath Ledger is equally as brilliant as Joker. This is the best DC movie out there, and he’s definitely your favorite Batman, right? Right. We couldn’t leave out this role, and we definitely consider it to be Bale’s most heroic.
John Preston, Equilibrium (2002)
In this sci-fi drama, it’s the future, and feelings are illegal. Bale plays John Preston, hired by the government to enforce these laws. However, when he stops taking the mind-altering drug, he realizes it is up to him to overthrow the oppressive regime.
This is definitely a villain-turned-hero kind of role, but you know that this character saves the day by rebelling against oppression. Bale is always our hero, honestly. Also – Sean Bean is his co-star, so you know you have to give it a watch.
Bobby Platt, All the Little Animals (1998)
This is an older, underrated flick. While it’s not the same action-hero kind of film, we think this character deserves some recognition. Bale plays Bobby Platt, a young man with mental challenges. He escapes his abusive stepfather, and meets up with an older man who buries roadkill animals on the highway. This movie is heartfelt and intense, and Bobby Platt is definitely the hero of his own story.
John Miller, The Flowers of War (2011)
This history drama takes place in China during 1937. Bale is John Miller, an American mortician who arrives at a Catholic church to bury a priest. However, he discovers a convent of young girls and prostitutes from a brothel, and decides it is his duty to protect these two groups from the war. This is kind of an American/man savior film, but this character is definitely still the hero, and we always love Christian Bale as the knight in shining armor. Plus, this film is tragic and beautiful, and definitely deserves a watch.
Melvin Purvis, Public Enemies (2009)
This biography crime drama takes place in the 1930s. Bale plays Melvin Puris, an FBI agent who is assigned to take down American gangster John Dillinger. This movie will definitely have you on the edge of your seat, and it might conflict you about who the real enemies are.
However, this is definitely a heroic role, just maybe not as much as Batman or the others already listed. Still, this crime flick is definitely worth your time, and also includes Johnny Depp and Jason Clarke.
Dicky Eklund, The Fighter (2010)
Bale stars alongside Mark Wahlberg in this biography sport drama. Based on the true story of Micky Ward, Bale plays Dicky Eklund, his older brother who was a boxer, but has turned to training after trouble with drugs and crime. Sure, this character has his issues, but he kind of plays a hero in the sense of helping his younger brother become better than him. Directed by David O. Russell, this film won 2 Oscars, and is definitely all the heartfelt and heart-wrenching drama you could ever hope for. Plus, these two men are brilliant.
Michael Burry, The Big Short (2015)
This biography drama follows a group of investors during the crash of the housing market in 2006. Starring Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, Brad Pitt, our main man, and many more, this is definitely a flick you don’t want to miss. Christian Bale is Michael Burry, an eccentric man who has become the hedge fund manager of Scion Capital. He thinks the housing market will crash, so he bets against it with the banks. He’s in it for the money, which makes him kind of a villain. Plus, he’s totally wild, and he’s pretty hard to work with. However, these stories are brilliant and totally riveting. Plus, it’s narrated in regular-people terms by Margot Robbie in a bathtub, so.
Dick Cheney, Vice (2018)
Yeah, Dick Cheney is quite the villain, and we’re sorry ,not sorry, to put him so close to the bottom of this list. This biography drama tells the story of Dick Cheney’s rise from Washington insider to Vice President of George W. Bush. Directed by Adam McKay, Bale is Cheney, and this flick also includes Amy Adams, Steve Carell, and Sam Rockwell. It was nominated for Best Picture, and it’s probably safe to say this film is more on the villain side, but we loved every second of it.
Irving Rosenfeld, American Hustle (2013)
This one is also directed by David O. Russell, and this crime drama also received 10 Oscar nominations. Bale is Irving Rosenfeld, a con-man who works alongside his seductive partner (Amy Adams). However, they must partner up with FBI Agent, Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper), who forces them to work alongside Jersey powerbrokers and the Mafia. Yeah, a con-man is a pretty cut-and-dry villain, and this film is absolutely breathtaking. You can also find a very unhinged Jennifer Lawrence in the mix, as well as Jeremy Renner and many more. Honestly, Bale’s role is mesmerizing.
Patrick Bateman, American Psycho (2000)
It’s pretty hard not to put the maniacal, misogynistic, and morbid serial killer at the bottom of this list. Christian Bale is Patrick Bateman, and he’s a wealthy investment banker who likes to kill prostitutes and just about anyone who threatens his position. Starring alongside Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas, Reese Witherspoon, Willem Dafoe, and Jared Leto, this film is actually brilliant. Yes, it’s violent, and this is without a question the most villainous role this man has ever played. Still, he slayed every second of it (no pun intended), and it’s impossible not to love every moment of this film (and be disgusted by it, obviously).
