The Machinist (2004) – Review

Directed by Brad Anderson

I have come to admire Christian Bale and his performances in recent times because of his versatility and determination as an actor. In The Machinist he lost a staggering 63 pounds to play the role of ‘Trevor Reznik’. His diet consisted of a can of tuna and an apple per day. What was more amazing was that he needed to gain the weight back and go through intense training to play the role of Batman in the new legacy.

The story is about a machine operator who suffers from insomnia. Events occur in the workplace and at home, which make him paranoid and question his sanity. He experiences flashbacks and mysterious visions, which he can’t piece together. In some ways the story is too complicated to explain in words.

The Machinist is puzzling in the way it slowly reveals bits of the story piece by piece – a fairly slow-paced feel but at times dynamic and full of eerie tension. With a matured acting performance by Bale, fitting set design and cinematography that visualises a distorted sense of reality – The Machinist demands you pay attention in order to unravel the mystery.

I’ve only seen the film once, but I have no doubt that like ‘The Usual Suspects’, the second time you watch it you’ll see more and more things that help you find all the pieces to the puzzle.

8/10