The Machinist
a film Brad Anderson

This is nothing new. In the same vein as films such as Secret Window, the ending such as in Secret Window is not that much of a surprise. So why bother? It is all in the story telling as well as the performances that elevate this movie a notch above. Don't get me wrong, even though I guessed the ending of Secret Window before the movie was a third of the way in, I still enjoyed Johnny Depp's performance as a man losing his grip on his sanity. But here, the Machinist plays more on the surreal. With muted tones Anderson paints a world that Tervor Reznik, Christian Bale, has literally lost himself in. Trevor has not slept in a year and has become little more that a skeleton of his former self. Here's where Christian Bale makes the movie work. Bale reported lost over 60 lbs to play Trevor, something that worried the producers as well as Anderson, and even wanted to lose more but was prevented by the director over serious concerns over Bale's health. The sacrifice he made for the role is already being touted as one that was even greater than Deniro's gaining wait for Raging Bull.

The Machinist is a study of guilt and redemption. I really don't think it needs anymore analysis than that. Bale delivers as does the supporting cast. Jennifer Jason Leigh, who never gives a boring performance, as the sympathetic prostitute that would love to start life over with Trevor leaves you wanting things to work out between the two. Then Michael Ironside as the fellow shop mate that meets with an accident seems to ironically to be the only one in the shop that doesn't harbor a grudge towards Trevor. Yet as Trevor's paranoia grows, he destroys that as well as every relationship that would benefit him. John Sharian as the mysterious Ivan is nicely sinister in his appearance and the mauled hand with the attached toe as a finger is a devious touch.

Anderson leans heavy on visual imagery to let us know that Trevor’s world is not quite in step with the rest of us. The carnival ride in the Route 666 ghost house actually reveals everything that movie is about. The post it notes, the blood dripping from the fridge’s freezer compartment that Trevor seems oblivious to are all cryptic clues to Trevor’s mental state.

I enjoyed the movie. As I said before it is nothing new, a retelling. But if you enjoyed classic Twilight Zone themes, this one is for you. The only thing missing is an voice over by Rod Serling. I understand the DVD will be out sometime in May. I will pick it up.

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