2/5/2009

in

Christian Bale might have few friends among the press and the public following his obscene four minute rant, but one Hollywood director is sticking his neck out for him: Darren Aronofsky.

John Winn

Christian Bale might have few friends among the press and the public following his obscene 38-second rant, but one Hollywood director is sticking his neck out for him: Darren Aronofsky. According to the BBC, Aronofsky has described the tantrum as "reasonable."  
  
Speaking at London's Film Critic's Circle Awards, Aronofsky said, "I think he \[Bale\] was right. I don't think he was out of line."  
  
According to Aronofsky, the period between 'action'--when the film is being shot--and cut is "a sacred time. The first time is excusable. The second time ruins it."  
  
On the tape, Bale could clearly be heard going off on Director of Photography Shane Hurlbut, asking at one point, "Are you professional or not?" after Hurlbut changed a lamp on the set of *Terminator Salvation*.  
  
According to friends of Bale, the disruption broke the actor's concentration on an important scene between his character, John Connor, and Bryce Dallas Howard, who plays Connor's wife.  
  
Aronofsky's sentiment is backed up by Michael Winner, a veteran of film sets in L.A. "\[Bale\] is 100% right" about losing his temper, Winner said in a statement to reporters.  
  
While both Sony Pictures, the studio producing the McG-directed *Terminator* sequel, and Bale's agent have not returned calls from press, the incident is fueling both speculation and disgust at Bale for his allegedly disproportionate response to Hurlbut.  
  
This is not the first time Bale has gotten in trouble for his temper. In 2007, Bale was arrested for assault in the UK after he allegedly hit his mother. According to sources in Bale's inner circle, Bale's mother was allegedly trying to extort money from him.