Absolutely mind—bending thriller

Rating: 10/10 (22 May 2009)

BRAD ANDERSON's chilling thriller belongs to a class of superior exciting mind—blowing _divertissements—original, more or less, puzzles—the puzzling, paradoxical and suspenseful enigmas of identity and suspense—good story—telling, suspense, atmosphere and identity puzzles; other movies in the same class might be ABRE LOS OJOS, MEMENTO, 12 MONKEYS and ANGEL HEART. This one is maybe the best of the lot; it has suspense, a good score, a quite bright script, awesome atmosphere, mind-bending puzzle, and, above all, a distinguished cast—Bale gives a mind—blowing performance, but Mss. Jason Leigh and Sanchez—Gijon are standouts as well, and the supporting parts are also exquisitely done—Ironside and the others. The two actresses are no less than hot—and I was glad that Mrs. Jason Leigh got a significant role in a very fine movie.
Bale makes his role a triumph; it could of been only a curiosity, instead it is a triumph of good performing. Truly impressive performance, intense and convincing and sharp, of a very well written role which needed a mind—bending physical appearance; Bale has chosen to provide for it. The history of the cinema will record that Bale nearly killed himself, he atrociously starved himself to be able to do this character of blurred identity; well, artistically it merited. The movie is so exciting it defies every expectation.
The category of 'heartbreaking eerie mystery thrillers' is one of our sources of true joy; the Bale movie honors this category.
Do you know any other thrillers from the mentioned class? What do you think about them, or about this one?