Strong movie, not-that-strong storyline.

Rating: 7/10 (7 May 2007)

While the performances (credits not only to Christian Bale, but to Jennifer Jason Leigh and Aitana Sánchez-Gijón), the cinematography and the atmosphere created are outstanding, the plot (especially the "twist" at the end) seems to reverse around itself, and when in the end you come to think of it, there is is actually not much to reconsider.
This is a pity, because there have been many interesting subplots that could have been developed. The post-its left by strangers (all indicating his own guilt in the end), the picture where he refuses to recognize himself, the epileptic boy (that was a shivery part), the arm cut and his own "accident" - I tend to believe that this must have been different originally, but had to be cut from the end version, but who knows.
I have to admit that because of the elaborate son-mother line I assumed for the largest part of the film that Reznik is going to have his mother (who I supposed to have died in the car accident caused by Reznik instead of the little boy) in the fridge, the fish took me rather by surprise.
The ending with the car accident is good, yes, but somehow unsatisfactory, because unlike in Fight Club, e.g., where the final impression is that of "how on earth did they come to this ending, I would never have thought of that, I'm stunned", the Machinist is a bit easier to predict, yet still an extremely strong and well-done film.
Worth watching rather for atmosphere and great acting. You won't bite your nails but learn an important (if not belated) lesson about why to drive very carefully and how important a good night's sleep can become.