The aspect of any Ridley Scott film has to do with control, perspective and shift. Sometimes, in recent memory, his films have gone wayward losing themselves more in the concept than the arch of the story. With “The Dog Stars” there is more an efficiency of path, which was probably dictated by the novel but its efficiency and baseline element explored in the pace give it a much more organic progression than say “Gladiator 2” which was much more meandering.

While it takes a couple scenes to get what the dynamic is going to be, it is truly Christian Bale's brilliance that comes together. Unlike certain more sleazy or perhaps characters on a moral precipice, here he plays a character which is utterly charming with a chip on his shoulder and yet wants to be both a provider against his bigger ego.