The Machinist DVD Review

"THE MACHINIST" reviews

DVD

THE MACHINIST

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2005-10-27 22:16:48

Provider

MRIB

DVD Review

Christian Bale played one of the least sympathetic cinema characters of recent times in American Psycho. Now, for The Machinist, he plays someone almost as repulsive.

Here it's the physical dimension rather than the psychological that appalls. This isn't to imply that his character is alright up top, but Bale, who lost almost a third of his body weight - and he was no Johnny Vegas to begin with - to play the title role of a man slowly disintegrating, is so painfully thin it actually hurts to look at him. Immediately after he bulked up for Batmans Begins. consequently receiving the wrath of numerous health organisations across the west coast of America

Bale is Trevor Reznick, a machine-operator and insomniac who says he hasn't slept properly for a year and looks to have been off his food for even longer. He takes to hanging out at the local airport to wile away his lonely nights, where he's chatted up by a friendly waitress (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon). Jennifer Jason Leigh crops up as cinema's favourite cliché, The Whore With The Heart Of Gold, improbably undeterred by his ghostly appearance or the increasingly alarming signs of his dementia.

As Bale begins to (potentially) hallucinate and his worn-out state becomes a danger to his workmates, The Machinist develops a mystery thriller plot...we won't say more as it could spoil it for you!

Extras include an audio commentary by director Brad Anderson, a UK exclusive director interview, The Making Of The Machinist plus eight deleted scenes and film notes.

Copyright © MRIB 2005.