Not a film you can just throw in any old time, but it is good.

Rating: 7/10 (11 January 2011)

First off, when you see Christian Bale in this film know that it is indeed him and not a computer generated image. Bale lost nearly 60 pounds for this role and he looks so gaunt and emaciated you wonder if it could possibly be real, it is.
Bale plays Trevor Reznik, a machinist who hasn't slept for a year. His physical appearance is just one side effect of the lack of sleep, he also suffers from visual and auditory hallucinations. Watching the movie I spent a great deal of time trying to determine what was real and what was fantasy as I witnessed Bale's slow decent into utter madness. The movie is not just about the journey though, it is also about the cause, which we discover in the closing minutes of the film. I won't give away the ending but I will say that it is a satisfying and sensible one.
Be patient with the film, it does take some time to really get going, but once it does you will be hopelessly trapped in the shifting maze that is Bale's reality. In every scene you recognize and believe his pain, confusion, anger, and madness. The Machinist is not the kind of movie you will want to see over and over, but rather take in once and keep it with you.