Mesmerising: study in guilt and paranoia

Rating: 8/10 (19 February 2006)

This is a film where atmosphere and images are the plot!! The film is atmospherically shot, with no real colours, representative of the darkness and sombreness of Reznik's mind.
Reznik (the central character) who hasn't slept in a year, is captivatingly and convincingly played by Christian Bale. There are shades of Beautiful Mind here: the film is, clearly, a study of Reznik's psyche, and a brilliant study of paranoia, bought on by guilt. This is Bale's film: physically, he creates a likable but painful Trevor Reznick. Jennifer Jason-Leigh, as a prostitute who is prepared (eventually)to commit to the character played by Ble, is equally good and understated.
This is not an "easy" film to watch-- because we are dealing with a man who is not in full control of his mind -- he hasn't slept for a year, and has insomnia and delusions.
But it is a rewarding film and well worth engaging with: it is NOT a "crowd pleaser" but should be sen by movie-philes and those with an interest in psychology. Mesmerising.