Mechanical references to Dostoyevski

Rating: 5/10 (31 May 2005)

The Machinist contains a constant stream of references to Dostoyevski: The books on the table, the landlord, signs on walls, name of the main character. But they are so direct that there is no greater cinematic effect as a result. More interesting is the copying of the form of Crime and Punishment, giving away the killer in the beginning but not the process. But as Dostoyevski is the inventor of the novel it doesn't necessarily guarantee a great movie.
The double character-trick that made Fight Club such a surprise is once again used. Well portrayed is the psychological mindset of the main character that translates in the blurring of the line between reality and imagination.
Art-house movies often suffer from the misunderstanding that a slow pacing in itself guarantees a better movie, but that's only the case if there is interesting camera-work involved or a complicated, multi-layered storyline. Not so here. It's even overexplanatory: For example it would be a nice ending to stop at the double-reporting of the hit-and-run, but it goes on to explain that Trevor can now sleep again; When the fish falls out of the fridge we immediately see the photo as if we can not use our own imagination.
Dostoyevski-lovers should certainly check out the Brazilian movie Nina that has more imaginative and visual storytelling.