The Machinist (2004)

recommended

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

For the majority of the film Bale delivers a modest and successful portrayal of sleep deprived factory worker Trevor Reznik. However, a number of scenes allow Bale to convey his truly staggering acting prowess (rivalling his ambitious portrayal of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho) to the audience. Similarly, Bale's commitment to the role is evident in his flesh stripped protagonist. Not only does the black and white colour palette of the film compliment Reznik's destructive mind and body perfectly, but the many visual hints serve to deepen the mystery. Despite tedious beginnings and a narrative that (whilst commendably non linear) becomes convoluted in areas, The Machinist's final act is one of the highlights of the film.

'The Machinist' is a dull and anti-climatic film that is only held up by a strong and committed performance by Christian Bale. I had not heard much about this film prior watching it, and my only knowledge on it was that Bale had lost a significant amount of weight for this role. The opening scene promises a dark and compelling (murder?) mystery, but as soon as this scene is over, the remainder of the film drags on. It became clear from the beginning that the character is insane, and therefore not everything is reality. By revealing this so early into the film, the plot-twist at the end isn't anything special. There's no 'ah-ha' moment where you sit there, surprised, shocked and entertained once the movie makes all sense. It's rather an 'oh, okay' moment. While I think the plot wasn't too bad in itself, it was simply the whole way this film was directed. Overly long scenes combined with a very bleak color palette can easily diminish ones attention. However, this film does have a few silver linings. Christian Bale does a fantastic job in this role, fully embodying the character - even from a physical level. The complexity and insanity of the character is highly believable and I'm surprised this did not get an Academy Award nomination! The supporting cast also do a fine job in their roles but were all evidently undermined by Bale. Another perk of the film was the eerie and surreal soundtrack by Roque Baños, who contributed the most to the bizarre and psychotic atmosphere that lingers over this film. Overall, this film was a disappointment for me as it dragged on and led to nowhere. However, it's always a pleasure watching brilliant acting play out on the screen, as well as hearing a masterful soundtrack.

'The Machinist (2004)' is an under-seen and underrated gem, a Hitchcockian psychological thriller based on a twisty, nuanced screenplay. It boasts a fantastic performance from Christian Bale and an excellent Hermann-esque score. It's one of the most compelling and unpredictable films in the genre. When the twists come, they feel earned and enhance the overall effect of the piece. Fantastic, unexpected stuff. 8/10

If you like thrillers/ mysteries esp. psychological thrillers or dramas, this movie is one of the best ever. Even without regard to genre, this is just a superb movie. If possible (albeit you're reading reviews right now) watch this movie knowing as little about it beforehand as possible. Watch it alone (so you can really observe it), and then watch it again. Freaking fantastic movie; such a human story. Unforgettable...If you are a lover of classic horror, you will adore this film. Just as "The Shining" is one of the most visually beautiful and ominous horror film classics, "The Machinist" is a dark, riveting, crescendo of suspense, and so much more than that; it is so purely human...Here's how good this film is: it is as if O. Henry made a psychological thriller/ horror film. Sheer brilliance. So beautiful, so poignant. You will cry. I love this film.