Bale gets skinny - again

That Christian Bale can always get a job doing 'before & after' gym ads should this acting thing not pan out. Check out "American Psycho" and "The Machinist" to see just how malleable his physique can be.

His latest film featuring his evolving calorie count, "Rescue Dawn," hits DVD stories tomorrow. Bale stars in the true tale of a soldier who gets shot down over enemy territory in Vietnam and must figure out a way to escape a brutish POW camp. His fellow prisoners are an odd lot, indeed, but he connects with a bearded fellow (Steve Zahn, who earned raves for playing against type) who helps him plot possible escape routes.

"Rescue Dawn" isn't revolutionary in its themes or execution, but director Werner Herzog nails the humanity of the captives while hinting at the madness surrounding the Vietnam War and its slow rollout. (Photo: An emaciated Bale looks skyward for help in "Rescue Dawn.")