Bale's fantastic performance in an underrated masterpiece should be seen by all!

Rating: 10/10 (2 January 2012)

"Who are you?"
Christian Bale goes beyond extremity in his role as Trevor Reznik. He lost over 30 kg (60 lbs) to get this troubled skeleton looking character to life. A tremendous act of commitment for the part and method acting at its best.
Trevor Reznik hasn't slept for over a year. He works in a factory as a machinist. One day he causes an accident to a co-worker. He was distracted because of Ivan, a mysterious man who seems to know something about his past.
After the accident, Trevor starts to get closer to paranoia, he thinks that his co-workers have made a plot against him. Mysterious notes, with the game of hangman, starts to appear at his home. The only comfort he gets is from a whore, played by the always great Jennifer Jason Leigh, and a waitress, whom he meets every night after work at the airport cafeteria.
"What, babe? What's going on in that crazy head of yours?"
'The Machinist' has some familiar themes like insomnia and the consequences of it. Is it all just an illusion or harsh reality? It is hard to trust the images given to the viewer, the world seems different to Trevor than to the other people in the film. It's difficult to know who's real and who is not.
"You outta do something about that faulty memory of yours, pal. Might make life a little bit easier."
The film offers some "deja vu" like scenes. For example the Route 666 scene where Trevor is offered two choices; "Highway to Hell" or "Road to Salvation". Later on in the movie, in the sewers there's either A or B, dark or light. This is just an example on how detailed the script is. Another fine example on the mystery is the register plates on the cars. Check 'em out, they'll give you some hints.
Duskiness of the lighting and the grainy photography gives us an industrial feeling. Xavi Giménez, the cinematographer, uses different shades of grey and blue throughout the movie. "The Machinist" looks very good and is something different than the average picture.
'The Machinist' is not for the casual movie goers. It's dark and heavy to look at. The detailed script gives the viewer a lot of excitement and twists that guarantee a rewarding experience.
As curiosity, Brad Anderson had troubles to get the film to production in the States so he decided to do it in Spain with foreign producers. Thanks for that, because this film is one of my favourites.
"I know who you are..."