Directed by:
Brad AndersonScreenplay:
Scott KosarCinematography:
Xavi GiménezComposer:
Roque BañosCast:
Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, John Sharian, Michael Ironside, Anna Massey, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Reg E. Cathey (more)VOD (2)
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Factory worker Trevor Reznik (Christian Bale) suffers from insomnia so severe that his condition has taken its toll on his weight and his mental health. When Trevor unintentionally causes an on-the-job accident that horribly injures a coworker (Michael Ironside), he begins to become even more troubled. Despite a relationship with Stevie (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a pretty prostitute, Trevor descends further into paranoia, blaming his problems on an enigmatic figure named Ivan (John Sharian). (Shock Entertainment)
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Reviews (9)
A well made mystery drama with elements of horror. You you will have to enjoy the atmosphere because to story itself is not that surprising (if you’ve already watched a few films, figuring out the twist will be easy). That said, The Machinist is still worth watching, if only for Christian Bale’s superhuman (inhuman) performance.
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The viewer's slight and, over time, steadily increasing suspicion diminishes the resulting effect of the final revelation. The Machinist, therefore, is strong not in the incisive Shyamalan-like twist (which I found satisfying, it was very fitting in the context for the story), but in the brilliant depiction of the mental suffering of a man, sparked by severe insomnia and the violent repression of guilt within himself. On top of that, the gloomy atmosphere was delicious. Anderson could not have found a better actor than Bale, in whose face all the shades of mental anguish and fatigue are perfectly visible, and whose Stanislavskian method, supported by the consumption of just one apple a day, leads to something that, in scenes where Bale's character is half undressed, makes the viewer feel physically sick. Apples were soon replaced by mounds of doughnuts (the model diet of any proper Batman) and it makes me want to say that Bale is not the devil, KevSpo. Even he wouldn't take such a gamble with his health :)
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A very powerful and depressing film that relies mainly on Christian Bale's acting and looks. The director dictates the pace brilliantly and with the gloomy atmosphere he manages to keep the viewer in the highest tension and alertness for an hour and a half. The screenplay doesn't fool around, either, it's purposeful all the way through and the ending, even though it may be guessed ahead of time, is an excellent and exciting conclusion to this outstanding and original thriller.
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An excellently gloomy atmosphere and you will be astounded by Christian Bale, skinny to the bone putting doubts in the minds of those wanting to maintain their “slim figure". Reznik is an amazing character and the punchline of his story will simply get you. And yes, even if you saw Fight Club, The Machinist still has a lot to offer. A very strong four star rating.
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A picture that can be summed up as “Bale, but nothing else". Christian Bale absolutely excels, not only in physical preparations for the part, but mainly in his performance of a worker suffering from long-term insomnia, and strange things start happening to him. The problem is that this movie seems much better than it really is, and the screenplay is completely predictable. The only reason why it is at all watchable is the expectation that the outcome won’t be what it looks like it is going to be from the very first minutes. The movie quite often promises very clearly that “this is going to be really something, just wait and you’ll see". In the end it all seems to trail off into nothing and you are left feeling that somebody wasted the huge potential. Overall, this is definitely an example of quality filmmaking that is saved by the Bale and he is rightly praised highly by many for his performance. I’m rather intrigued to see just how bad this would have turned out with a different actor.
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Gallery (56)
Photo © Paramount Classics
![The Machinist - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/159/709/159709346_3e25cc.jpg)
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