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During the London press junket for The Dark Knight in 2008, Christian Bale was infamously accused of assaulting his mother and sister at The Dorchester Hotel. Six months later, a recording of Bale's rant on the set of Terminator Salvation was leaked, and the star's anger began to define him.
Beyond his notorious temper, the Academy Award-winning actor is known for his ability to physically transform himself for roles in American Psycho, The Machinist, and The Fighter, and as one of Hollywood's most revered and bankable characters-Batman.
In Christian Bale: The Inside Story of the Darkest Batman, Bale's former publicist and assistant Harrison Cheung shares an inside look into the little-known personal life of the intensely private and reclusive actor and how the Internet helped make him a star. Cheung, who lived and worked with Christian and his father for almost 10 years, shares firsthand accounts of the Bales' familial dysfunction, Christian's morbid fascinations and dark humor, and his extreme dedication to his craft.
Written with veteran Hollywood and entertainment reporter Nicola Pittam, Christian Bale uncovers Bale's transformation from a shy, English child actor to an Internet sensation to a Hollywood bad boy.
Introduction
1. Empire of the Son
2. Father Figure
3. Bale-Out
4. Newsies
5. Christian Fail
6. Baleheads Begin
7. Little Women, Big Dreams
8. Golden Years
9. Before Batman, there was Bateman
10. Post-Psychotic
11. An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away
12. A Balance of Darkness and Light
13. Harsh Times
14. The Curse of Batman – it’s no Joker
15. The Fighter
16. Award Season Appendix
AlwaysReview
Posted June 2, 2012
This book was Amazing! I have to disagree with the other reviewer. I thought this book was artfully crafted and wrote in a way that you feel you are literally apart of the story! I feel the book told the story in the right way and it felt truthful and real. I was so impressed by the way the author delivers the material and i feel it was given and delivered in a way that anyone would understand what was going on with Christian Bale and how his son and family coped with what happened. This is great for anyone that wants to know the truth or looking for any interesting read!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 20, 2012
Total garbage. The only believable thing might be how David Bale used his son's earnings, but other than that it's just fiction. The dedication to baleheads past and present is insulting to baleheads period. Only gullible people would believe the garbage dished out. The book should be listed as Fiction, not nonfiction. None of the so called faxes or notes are scanned and put in the book, they are just written as if they were true. This book shouldn't even deserve a whole stare, but not even one. The only reason this book was published was because Harrison wouldn't sign a NDA, which is common practice for actors/actresses to have someone working for them to sign it. Only gullible ninecompoops would believe anything that is written by this disgusting slimeball.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I think most of it was made up. Some maybe true, but most of it was just mean!
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 13, 2013
Nanananananananananana BATMAN!!!!!!!!!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Helen_Ginger
Posted April 28, 2013
Christian Bale: The Inside Story of the Darkest Batman is an intimate look at the actor, Christian Bale, by his assistant and former publicist, Harrison Cheung, along with reporter Nicola Pittam. According to Cheung, he's the one who rocketed Bale to stardom.
Cheung began an online fan site for Bale long before such sites were the norm. The Internet was still pretty much in its infancy. For years, he focused on Bale and was the driving force behind Bale's rise to stardom. So much so, that Bale eventually hired him. Cheung ended up living and working with Bale for almost ten years.
The book doesn’t focus on Cheung, though. It's a tale of Bale, who doesn’t come across as a particularly likable person. Cheung does, however, show how committed and driven he is. Bale throws himself completely into characters. Doing whatever it took to become that character, including losing incredible amounts of weight when the role called for it. He would change himself into that character. At times, Bale is unable to control his anger, either with his family or on set. He does, also, come across as an actor totally immersed in the characters he played and dedicated to stepping into their skin, no matter the cost to himself.
We are taken from when Christian Bale was a child actor to years later when he took on his most known role as Batman in the movie, The Dark Knight. And I admit that as soon as I finished reading Christian Bale: The Inside Story of the Darkest Batman, I loaded my copy of The Dark Knight and watched it. Having a new understanding of the actor, I saw the movie and the role differently. Knowing how completely Christian Bale becomes the character he's playing makes you worry about what kind of toll it takes on him. This book isn't a fan book. Christian doesn't always come across as likable. But in ways, it helps the reader understand Christian. Cheung shows the sad childhood of Bale. Keeping the family afloat and housed fell on Bale's shoulders, even as a child.
This is an interesting book, whether you're in the movie industry or not. For those who are entering the field, it can be a cautionary tale. For those of us who are not, it's a look behind the red curtain and into obsession.
I give Christian Bale: The Inside Story of the Darkest Batman a rating of Hel-of-a-Story.
**************
Disclaimer: I do not know Christian Bale. I do not know Harrison Cheung, although I did meet him when we were both doing readings at Central Market.
Anonymous
Posted March 1, 2013
Hes freakin awesome in batman lov u christain
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 10, 2013
"I was wondering what would break you or your spirit"
"I am the league of shadowps"
"Im sorry they took all your mony mister wayne" "no your not"
"You have my permission to die now"
"Gothams Reconing!"
"I AM BATMAN"
Anonymous
Posted August 26, 2012
For christian bale, we should all endeavor to lead a life of kindness,reflecting of the deep beauty of our hearts and souls...one of the greatest reasons people watch movies is that a great movie,will touch the heart,inspire the soul,and uplift the mind....imagine to find out that a great actor portraying great roles in these movies,behaves in real life the complete opposite of these values....leaving the movie goer,without a hero,heartbroken,and shattered.....
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 3, 2012
NO NEED TO USE BAD LANGUAGE
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
During the London press junket for The Dark Knight in 2008, Christian Bale was infamously accused of assaulting his mother and sister at The Dorchester Hotel. Six months later, a recording of Bale's rant on the set of Terminator Salvation was leaked, and the star's anger began to define him.
Beyond his notorious temper, the Academy Award-winning actor is known for his ability to physically transform himself for roles in American Psycho, The ...