bale outdoes himself yet again

Rating: 9/10 (13 January 2005)

yeah, we all know Christian bale is smoking right now in his career. this summer he will be batman, and solidify himself as an actor amongst the notable (not that he hasn't always been in some peoples minds). in this film, he truly embodies every emotion and frustration and defeat of someone in his situation. This man has not slept in a year, and everyone can tell. But it is that peculiar awareness that he carries, much like Guy Pearce in "Memento" or Edward Norton in "Fight Club" that really puts us in his situation and manages to keep us enticed all the while. True, i could somewhat tell where the film was going, sad that other films with a twist in the end have my mind programmed to pick up on every detail along the way now, but nonetheless there is a point where we simply ask "what will he do now?" despite some of its similarities to other films, the story itself is pretty original and able to jump from different moods and plot devices quick and efficient enough that it really had some staying power and a strong after-effect that is difficult to find these days. Bale is amazing as always, and the world he lives in in "The Machinist" is truly intriguing and worth checking out.