Harsh Times is a 2005 American action crime film written and directed by David Ayer in his directorial debut. Set in South Central Los Angeles, the film stars Christian Bale and Freddy Rodriguez. The film was distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Bauer Martinez Entertainment. Ayer says that the film's characters are largely based on the people he knew when he lived in South Central Los Angeles.
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Plot
Former U.S. Army Ranger and Global War on Terror veteran Jim Davis has PTSD. Jim, determined to marry his Mexican girlfriend Marta, and bring her into the United States to start a life together, returns to Los Angeles, California. He reunites with his best friend Mike Alonzo, whose longtime girlfriend Sylvia is a young attorney "on the warpath" over his failure to get a job. Mike's previous job was outsourced and Sylvia encourages Jim to help Mike find new employment. After failing the psychological profile for a position in the LAPD, Jim gets drunk with Mike and they visit Jim's ex-girlfriend. A fight ensues when her current boyfriend shows up with a group of friends. Jim gets the upper hand and when Mike produces a gun, they rob the men of their possessions, including marijuana and a handgun. Jim leaves messages on Mike's answering machine with different voices, pretending to be companies responding to his resume. The fake callbacks put Sylvia in a good mood and Jim and Mike go to a "paisa" bar to try selling the stolen gun but leave after a potential buyer is killed. Mike is horrified, but Jim is excited by witnessing death again.
