The Machinist
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Movie Reviews of The Machinist
Movie Review: One of the greatest phychological thrillers... ever
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Machinist" is not only an amazing phychological thriller, but it contains one of the best performances I've ever seen. As soon as you see Christian Bale's skeletal body, and how emaciated he became just to play the part, you know there's something special here.
The main character is Trevor Reznik, a machinist who lives a lonely life and suffers from chronic insomnia that's destroying his life (he hasn't slept in over a year). He's lost an incredible amount of weight because of his illness, and he's also developed compulsions (soaking his hands in bleach and scrubbing his bathroom floor with a toothbrush, for example). His insomnia, as well as a series of freakishly odd happenings, quickly leads to paranoia. When an accident happens at the workplace, Trevor is thrown into not only confusion, but guilt, as well, as he tries to work out who is leaving strange sticky notes in his apartment. Without giving out any spoilers (and there are plenty to give), the ending is not what you expect... and it's this ending that make or breaks you as a fan of psychological thrillers. Frankly, you'll either love the twist or feel cheated. I loved it.
If you enjoy phsych movies, then "The Machinist" simply will not dissapoint you. Period. I feel that this movie is way underrated, especially given Bale's performance. But one thing that is misrepresented is the movie's own description of itself as outright "horror." I would never classify it as horror - it's definitely creepy, and it is way "out there," but don't let the idea of HORROR turn you off. It's not. The story is just so against the grain that people might not know what to make of it...hence the classification of horror. In my opinion, anyway. Awesome. Go and enjoy some great storytelling.
Movie Review: Cranial Flagellation
Summary: 5 Stars
Hollywood loves neurotic and psychotic characters, often romanticizing and rationalizing their screwed up behavior. Typically, after we are introduced to these people, the viewer gets to watch their descent. The movie ends, the credits roll and we wonder why we bothered. Yet, we seem to gravitate to these anti-heroes. There are tons of movies like this: Grizzly Man, The Door in the Floor, Love Liza and Kiss of the Vampire to name only a few. So what separates the good movies from the bad? Story? Cast? Screenplay? Acting? All of the above. And the Machinist hits the bull's eye in all of these categories.
In The Machinist, the acting and casting is top notch; starting with Bales incredible performance as the skeletal Trevor Reznick and right down to the management stooge that runs the grimy machine shop he works in. Both actor and director understand Trevor Reznick emotionally and physically. We are shocked as this walking corpse's presence fills the screen. See Batman Begins first for the real Christian Bale. It's a fine movie, too and it will give you a pretty good idea of how hard this actor worked to create his character.
The Machinist is a complicated, psychological study of the holistic nature of the human experience. Reality and fantasy are explored on all levels. But, in the end, we are treated to a gratifying conclusion as everything falls into place and finally the character makes sense to us. For me, this movie has a happy ending as Trevor is finally released. In Love Liza, the main character finally overcomes his fear. In the Machinist, Trevor is physically, spiritually and emotionally forced to accept change and thus a new beginning for our anti-hero and the rest his soul so desperately cries out for.
Movie Review: See it for Bale alone
Summary: 5 Stars
Christian Bale's jaw dropping performance in the Machinist is reason enough to see this film, which is undoubtadly one of the most haunting and unforgettable films to hit mainstream America in quite some time. Bales' transformation from the buff, he-man-esque physique that those expect from seeing him in Batman Begins, Reign of Fire, or American Psycho, to the incredibly gaunt, emaciated Trevor Reznick is on par with the transformations that Robert De Niro went through in Raging Bull, and more recently Charlize Theron in Monster. Reznick is a factory worker who hasn't slept in over a year, and feels a nagging sense of guilt. His links to reality include a hooker (Jennifer Jason Leigh) whom he frequents, and an airport waitress (Aitana Sánchez-Gijón); and his relationships with both take a nose dive soon after there is a crippling accident involving a co-worker (Michael Ironside) that Reznick is responsible for, and a mysterious man named Ivan (John Sharian) who is following Reznick around and can't be seen by anyone else but him. As the Machinist unfolds and it's secrets are gradually revealed, it's clear that not all is going to end well for Reznick, and as he spirals towards his breaking point, it's one hell of a trip going down with him. Director Brad Anderson gives the film a gray/blue-ish, almost metallic look, masterfully weaving the lonely world Reznick lives in with little to no human contact. Bale is masterful in both his performance and getting into his character, and the man well deserves an Oscar nomination. All in all, the Machinist is a haunting film that is definitely not for everyone, but for those looking for a mind bending trip, look no further.Movie Review: The man as nightmare; reality as the mind's deception
Summary: 5 Stars
The many reviews for this film make it unnecessary for me to detail the film's plot. One is struck, in watching "The Machinist", by what separates sanity from madness, what is real and what is unreal, and by the tenuous curtain that separates guilt from perpetrator.
The mood of the film is dark; it has a texture like bitter sandpaper and oil-stained steel. The dialogue is in turns brusque and tender, and the relationships within the film are never static. When speaking with his prostitute girlfriend who sees Trevor (the character played by Christian Bale) as her way out of a life she is desperate to escape, Trevor is surprisingly malleable and almost tender. With his workmates, he is increasingly confused, suspicious, terrified. With the mysterious figure that no one but he can see, he is insistent, somehow aware that this man knows why he has not slept in over a year, why strange things are happening, what is happening...
It's a tour de force of a performance. Many reviewers have already commented on the way in which Christian Bale starved himself to become skeletally thin to play this role. I've never seen anything like it - one is terrified for the health of Trevor, drawn into his awful sleepless suffering, not least because he looks like a man who's reaching the end of the road.
The ending is indeed a shocker, a surprise that can scarcely be anticipated. It is the perfect, the most satisfying, ending I've seen in quite a while. The directing led the pace of the film in a remorseless ride through the symbols that tell us what is truly happening.
Unequivocally recommended for those who don't mind a dark film, superbly plotted.
Movie Review: NERVOUSLY BRILLIANT
Summary: 5 Stars
It had been a while since a movie shocked me. "The Machinist" is about a man who can't sleep. He is the thinnest man you might ever see for two odd hours. You might wonder if that is reason enough for you to watch this film and that is precisely why I took me a while to finally watch it. I like films that are based solely around one character but The Machinist is something else. I thought it would be easy to write a review for this film. Well, it's about time I start mine.
I liked "Fight Club" but didn't like "Memento" too much and I thought "Seven" was good while I thought "Lucky Number Slevin" insulted movies. Some of these films werent as good as the others. The more popular ones had one or two characters to keep you interested. I liked Machinist because it had everything a character should be and more. In Trevor Reznik's heart resides a man of much mystery, intrigue and forgetfulness.
I mean, 11 minutes into the film I knew I was going to love it. It is a masterpiece because it has to be watched again to be appreciated and understood. Some might argue and find faults - too bad for them. Overall, much like my fellow readers who've written very good reviews for the Machinist, I felt the background score was truly magnificent while the semi-lucid conscience of characters had it's own charm.
The Machinist will grab your nerve and noodle it. Easily among my top 15 films of all time and I just saw it a week back. I will now go and watch every film by Christian Bale (loved Prestige) and meanwhile you should go watch The Machinist. Not to forget, fans of "Secret Window" might like this film,too.
My Rating -> 9.5/10