The Machinist (2004)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Better Late Then Never

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

'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

Before this review should begin, one must consider and commend the dedication of Christian Bale for his performance in this role. His role as Trevor is perfect; it is difficult or perhaps even impossible to consider what other actor would be able to pull this movie off with such effectiveness. The Machinist is about a blue-collar worker, Trevor Reznik, who explains how he "has not slept in a very long time". As the film progresses, he begins to question his own sanity as he becomes embroiled in his own troubled mind to discover why these unusual events are happening to him, and, what they could mean.In many ways, Reznik is on a path to discovery; it may not be the 'discovery' as me and you would relate to other films, but what is clear is that Reznik is trying to 'discover' what is happening to him. It is this discovery that leads to his ultimate end and, in turn allows him to find peace. The narrative is well executed but the plot is slightly let down with a sense of familiarity with the realisation he was chasing himself the whole time. It was almost predictable, but in fairness the film is incredibly engaging and does give you room to consider your own thoughts and ideas around it. Overall, the film will definitely has been a treat to watch. While the plot may be familiar to some audiences, it is nevertheless a captivating psychological thriller that will be remembered as one of Bale's most intense and finest performances of his career.

I thought this movie was very well acted and that it had a very unique plot, but I wasn't the only one left guessing at the end. I didn't understand what really happened. But I still thought it was a good movie nonetheless. Why did I like this movie? It's difficult to explain, but it was all in the main character's mind where I tried to be in order to make sense of what was taking place or what had taken place. It didn't help me none though. I guess a good movie such as this doesn't need that much of a closure. Maybe many people understand this movie, but I was a bit lost. I'd watch it again to see what the heck I might have missed the first time, for sure. Good job on this movie! I was lost, but I liked it...kind of an odd thing to say, but it is what it is.