The Machinist
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Movie Reviews of The Machinist
Movie Review: Still can't stop thinking about it
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this movie a few weeks ago, and I still can't get it off my mind! It's just one of those movies that sticks with you long after you've seen it. I knew I should have watched it a second time around before I brought it back, but it is some what exhausting to watch, so I just wasn't up to it. But I will definetly be renting it again, to see what I missed the first time around, and to tie up any loose ends that I still haven't wrapped my brain around. Incidently, my husband hasn't slept well since he saw The Machinist, and he's putting the blame on it (I don't buy his excuse)...but it probably isn't for everyone... it is definetly what you would call a dark movie. If that's your thing (...it's mine, if it's done right) then I say check this movie out. It was very well done, from start to finish. And of course you can't miss the amazing, shrunken Mr. Bale (...Christian Bale, who plays the main character and is one of my favorite actors...if you like him in this movie, then I highly recommend the movie "American Psycho"...excellent!), who lost sooo much weight for this role. I still haven't decided if he's just crazy, or so amazingly dedicated to his craft. Either way...he deserves more recognition than he gets.Movie Review: Unreal
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the best pieces of celluloid magic I've seen come out of America, and I didn't even know it until the second time through.
On the first viewing I realised this psychological eauty was one of the most atmospheric films I'd seen in a long time, and it succeeded where hundreds of straight horror films had failed. It had the same aesthetic and sense of creeping gloom that made me fall in love with Silent Hill 2.
However, things REALLY got interesting when the film was over. This is so well orchestrated that everything you only noticed in passing the first time (while making mental notes to find an answer for it later) has a different relevance the second time through. The bowl with candles floating in it? The photo album? The stuck clock? The animatronic waitress in route 666? The 'road to salvation' sign in route 666?
The route 666 section, while interestingly symbolic, the first time through becomes an absolute revelation on the second.
Not a single thing is incidental, every aspect, shot, every handwritten note, every character name, every clock face, prop and line is so layered with significance it's a joy behold. Watch it twice or not at all.
Movie Review: A modern take on Poe's Tell-Tale Heart!
Summary: 5 Stars
There are other movies out there that deal with trauma and its psychological components, such as Jacob's ladder, and this is a different take on a similar subject. The first scene of the movie makes no sense until the end of the movie, but everything finally does come together.
Faced with a terrible event, Trevor develops into an hallucinatory, pathetic character in trying to deal with his guilt. He starts off as a pleasant, intelligent guy, and his steady girl is also a likable, sympathetic person. But when he steps out with a waitress and her son, we begin to see that something is wrong. His weight issues, where he is 130 and losing day by day is also a flag that something has to be wrong.
He manufactures people and occurrences that at first seem real, but he finally realizes that they are anything but real.
Christian Bale gives an excellent performance in this movie and at its conclusion I found that I could feel for him in his torment. It is a difficult movie to watch at times, but one does take away from it the complexities of the human mind, and the power of the unconscious, or the soul, over the human mind. It is a modern day take on Poe's Tell-Tale Heart.
Movie Review: Modern Study of the Psyche.
Summary: 5 Stars
The Machinist ranks in the top echelon of psychological movies. It's a brilliant character study that examines the effects of sleep depravity, among other things, on the human body and mind.
Trevor Reznik is a employee at a local machine shop. He hasn't had a night's sleep in over a year. He weighs 121 pounds, and is losing weight by the day. He sees a man who no one else sees, or do they?
Throughout the movie, it is easy to get lost in the mystery. This movie never fails at keeping the audience guessing.
Most impressive is the emaciated Christian Bale. His commitment to character is one of a kind. It's not hard to get involved with Trevor's story because Bale makes it so believable. It is hard to imagine the amount of weight Bale lost for this role. There are scenes where it feels as if Trevor will waste away to nothing in front of your eyes. "If you were any thinner you wouldn't exist."
As the movie enfolds, Trevor's paranoia grows. As his paranoia grows the true mystery of his condition begins to reveal itself. This movie is a great study of the human condition under the worst scenario.
Five out of five stars.
Movie Review: Holy Moses...
Summary: 5 Stars
Is this the most extreme voluntary physical transformation in the history of cinema? It has to be. When we think of actors altering their bodies, especially weight-wise, we think of De Niro, Hanks, maybe Carrey and that gal who played the fat British chick. I almost don't want to overstress it, because the film is so well done in general. But people go on and on about Raging Bull, that for historical reasons I think it's necessary. The guy's got his sh-- together and all that's left is the art and performance in its purest form.
I also really took to Jennifer Jason Leigh's performance as the good hearted prostitute. Very well cast from a standpoint of beauty (can you believe she's in her 40's? doesn't look a day over 30) and compassion in her eyes for her "john". It doesn't play out cliched at all in their scenes. Moment to moment I really had no idea what the next scene would bring and was continuously surprised with the dialogue, the acting, not just in their scenes but throughout the film. Very special piece of film making with depth and staying power. I agree with the reviews before; this has the ability to be a classic, cult or otherwise.