The Machinist - Ray's Review

The Machinist
2004
102 mins

Directed by Brad Anderson
Written by Scott Kosar

Starring:
Christian Bale as Trevor Reznik
Jennifer Jason Leigh as Stevie
Michael Ironside as Miller
Aitana Sanchez-Gijon as Marie
John Sharian as Ivan

Intro:

Before he made Batman Christian Bale went on a diet and made The Machinist. Directed by the fairly unknown Brad Anderson (Session 9) and written by Scott Kosar (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2003), this is a dark tale about an insomniac called Trevor Reznik, a man who hasn't slept in a year and is slowly going insane... or is he? The Machinist has been likened to Memento meets Fightclub and I guess that is a fairly accurate comparison. I did feel confused at times (much like in Fightclub and Memento) but this film isn't nearly as slick as Memento or as hip as Fightclub. It's not trying to be either which is why I like it so much.

The Optimist:

The Machinist could be considered a companion piece of sorts to American Psycho - perhaps Bale will make a third psycho themed film to complete a psycho trilogy? This film is nothing like American Psycho in any way except that it deals with a man who has major mental issues, but as a case study of someone losing the plot it is no less powerful (having said that, if I had to pick a favourite it would still easily be American Psycho, possibly because it is so funny and far less dreary).

The Machinist is not a particularly cinematic film, it is clearly low budget and appears to be filmed on video (at least that's how it looked in the theatre I went to). The look of the film is very washed out - in fact it almost appeared to be black and white at times. The cinematography creates a strong brooding atmosphere, yet is never particularly dynamic. The music complements the visuals well.

Don't go into this expecting a traditional thriller. This is more of a mindfuck in the vein of a David Lynch film. You will be confused and angry at times but that's the point - this film puts you firmly into the shoes of Trevor Reznic, a man falling apart at the seams. As a result you feel Trevor's emotions as if they are happening to you - creating a very intimate atmosphere.

The thing that most people seem to talk about in relation to this film is all the weight Bale lost for it. Yes it is disturbing seeing him look like this - he really does look like he is starving to death and at times he is truly quite disgusting to look at. It definitely adds a creep factor to the film, but it also makes you pity him more which helps one to empathise a little more with a character who is fairly unlikable.

One thing I was worried about as I watched this was that it may be like some dumb artsy films which have no clear cut resolution and just meander pointlessly to some vague - and apparently deep - conclusion. Thankfully this was not the case, as much as the film is ambiguous and scrambled it is actually heading somewhere and the resolution I found to be quite fascinating, if a little lackluster. But as I've said, this film is not trying to blow you away and that's what I admire about it.

Overall I liked The Machinist because of it's strong atmosphere, it's non-linear structure and the central, riveting performance by Bale - aptly supported by seasoned actors Jennifer Jason Leigh and Michael Ironside. This is a film that knows what it is and tells its tale confidently and thoroughly - though it may not ultimately go in the direction you expect.

The Pessimist:

The intimate, intensely personal style of the film could be considered quite claustrophobic by some. At times I found myself feeling like I needed a little breather as the gloomy atmosphere got to me, but can that really be considered a bad thing when it appears to be the filmmakers intention anyway? I think they wanted me to feel what Trevor feels - discomfort, confusion and sadness - and they succeeded.

This is a film full of symbolism and hints to the stories true nature. While it is cool seeing all these clues scattered around, at times I found it distracted me from the central plot. I could have done with perhaps a little less symbolism, but then the film may not have worked. I'd have to see it a second time (now that I know where it is heading) and see if it needs all the breadcrumbs.

Ivan the bald headed mystery man drove me crazy with his toothy grins and cackling laugh. Enough with the bloody laugh man! I get it, he is a creepy dude, enough already! Move on!

I am of two minds about the ending. In some ways I admire that it has a credible ending rather then some over the top shock ending, but it may seem quite anticlimactic to some. If you are a savvy viewer and you have some idea of where it is heading it shouldn't be a let down - it wasn't for me anyway.

Conclusion:

The Machinist is a lean film which knows what it is and knows how to manipulate the audience without being condescending or relying on cheap gimmicks. It is an intimate and dark tale about a sad, sad man on the edge of sanity, who is unable to reach out for the help he so desperately needs. If that sounds interesting to you then you will probably enjoy it, if that sounds depressing and awful to you then... well you know where I'm heading.

7/10

SIDE NOTE: I found The Machinist quite similar to Fear X starring John Turturro, but unlike that pretentious David Lynch wannabe The Machinist didn't cop out and give us the "what the fuck?" ending, it actually had something tangible to say. Though I guess you can always argue that in life things aren't always clear cut and perhaps that's what Fear X was getting at? Personally I like endings that I can actually grasp, call me simple if you will.