Gritty, bleak, poignant yet strangely uplifting

Rating: 8/10 (17 February 2005)

First of all, I'd like to get this out of the way: Christian Bale is painful to look at. Honestly, if the dead could walk, they would look like Trevor Reznick. He is excruciatingly thin. When I was walking out of the cinema almost every conversation I heard was about Christian Bale's weight loss and no one spoke about how haunting his acting was. This is going to be a reoccurring theme for Bale and I would like to apologize now for it. Hell, I'd even write the guy a letter and congratulate him on nailing such a demanding role. In fact, I might just do that. Because in a society obsessed with their weight, that's all certain types of people will want to discuss.
Its unfortunate that the film reminds of Fight Club and Memento because that will detract from its originality and probably wont stand out as much in years to come. This film, again sorry to mention, will probably stand out for Bale's weight loss which, again, is a shame.
The Machinist is brilliant. It captures the bleak reality of a man haunted and how his life has gradually deteriorated. Also, this is a working man's film. Forget Edward Norton's bourgeois character in the beginning of Fight Club, Trevor Reznick is a man with no goals, aspirations, he just lives one day to the next, hardly drinking or even doing drugs. Also, Trevor is not an attention seeker: he just wants to be left alone to continue his bleak life.
Some of the twists are obvious ( it would be better if you hadn't seen Fight Club ) and the symbolism a bit overplayed; but it carries a stronger message than even Fight Club. Without giving too much away, Trevor's redemption, as difficult as that must be, is really the only way he could have gone. Gritty, bleak, poignant and, yes, depressing. The last time I was as moved by a film it was My Name is Joe - now THAT it a depressing, yet strangely uplifting, film.
If you can find this film playing ( which will be difficult ) GO AND SEE IT. It deserves recognition that it probably will not receive. As does Christian Bale's acting.