Very entertaining thriller with plenty for the mind to chew over.

Rating: 8/10 (28 February 2006)

Whilst watching The Machinist, I couldn't help but notice the similarities between it and a handful of other recent movies which have unravelled in a similar manner. The narrative structure borrows heavily from recent hits such as The Fight Club, Identity, Memento, Insomnia and The Sixth Sense but despite this, I still found myself gripped by this tale of a loner desperately trying to understand the strange occurrences happening all around him. Director Brad Anderson fills the film with so much for the viewer to think about that one forgives him for being somewhat derivative (check out IMDb's trivia notes for some great facts, and then watch the film again - you'll see the film in a whole new light).
Christian Bale deserves much of the credit for his portrayal of Trevor Reznik, a machine operator in a factory whose life is not all it at first seems. All skin and bones, Bale is barely recognisable  his dedication to his art lead him to shed 60 pounds in order to play the part  and he gives a performance that will haunt you long after you have seen the film.
The other players give equally strong performances; Michael Ironside is his usual dependable self, John Sharian is superb as the malevolent Ivan and Jennifer Jason Leigh is still looking good playing the tart with the heart.
In fact, it is only the final denouement that stops the film from being a wholly successful affair; the ultimate revelation is not as immediately powerful as that in the film it most closely resembles in style, the Sixth Sense. Whereas the twist in Shyalaman's film came in a totally unexpected way, The Machinist never hides the fact that we are heading towards a 'clever' ending. Consequently, the impact is somewhat diluted (although it does linger in the mind for a some time afterwards, as you slowly digest what you have seen).
But this is a minor quibble with what is a thoroughly entertaining film. Enjoy it for what it is  a competently made, well acted, above-par thriller.