If there is one actor well-known for his method acting, it would be Christian Bale. He's an actor that is so committed to a role that he would either gain a large amount of weight and muscle or even lose it all for a more skinny character. The most infamous role he took in regards to the raging debate about the extreme measures of method acting is his starring role in "The Machinist", a 2004 film that had Bale clock in at only 120 pounds to pull off the freakishly-looking character. Trevor Reznik is the aforementioned machinist, a young man working in a factory who hasn't slept in a full year, causing him to lose extreme amount of weight. He seeks comfort in life through a prostitute named Stevie and a diner waitress named Maria, as he constantly deals with fatigue from his condition. When an employee named Ivan distracts Trevor and causes a grisly accident to a co-worker, Trevor becomes obsessed in finding the elusive Ivan to let him admit in his interference as well as seemingly breaking into his apartment, while his insomnia starts to take a toll on his mind. Watching the film, it strangely bears a striking resemblance to another film released in 2004, "Secret Window" with similarities regarding a mysterious stranger who stalks the main character and the questioning of reality as a whole. "The Machinist" however has a more serious and dramatic tone compared to the more quirky, over-the-top Stephan King adaptation. There's barely moments of levity, even during scenes of content, as Trevor's physical appearance and state makes the viewer uncomfortable and worry about his declining health. However, the film also has a faint surrealist edge to it as despite the hardened reality Trevor lives in, characters and scenes seem somewhat illogical at times, perhaps blending in as a part of Trevor's uneven sense of reality. It really works at putting the viewer into the perspective of Trevor, making you want to just have a good night's sleep right after watching.
Christian Bale as Trevor might be his best performance to date. Even if one takes out the extreme weight loss he did, Bale still does his best at acting his heart out as the fragile, alienated, and guilt-carrying soul. You feel so terrible for him, but yet kind of want him to accept his mistakes instead of burning the bridges in his life. At times, the actor transcends so far into the role that you forget that it's the same guy who would play Batman a year later. Ivan, played by John Sharian, is a great reflection of the opposites of Trevor. Not only is his physical appearance the complete opposite of Trevor's state, but his personality and goal is distinctly unique to keep the symbology of the character secret until the very end. The side characters are also great, even if they have some odd quirks to them. Jennifer Jason Leigh as Stevie is great as the only comfort and moral support Trevor can really on, even considering to marry him and back out of her ways of work. Aitana Sanchez-Gijon as Maria is good, but his thick Spanish accent feels off in the setting of the story and her very white son. Micheal Ironside as Miller is interesting, but has some really odd reactions to his arm being torn off and how he holds very little anger towards Trevor. Lastly, there's Mrs. Shrike played by the late Anna Massey. She is probably the best actress in the film since she tends to feel so concerned and genuine towards Trevor, her tenant. There are other minor side characters such as some of Trevor's co-workers, his boss, Maria's son and a few police officers, but they barely do much in the film as a whole. The one issue I have with the side characters in general is that they tend to not act realistic at times. A lot of the side characters keep commenting on Trevor's wellbeing or what's going on in his head, despite Trevor himself clearly looking like he's extremely underweight or fatigued. The confrontation between Trevor and Stevie near the end is a bit strange as Trevor admitted to her that he has never slept in a whole year. Stevie is in the right to be angry, but wouldn't she be more questioning of his mental state for his unusual case of insomnia? The behaviour of some of the characters in select scenes feels unnatural which might be by design to create some surreal reality being in Trevor's perspective, but considering how grounded the film is for the most part and the ambiguity of what is real or fake, it can be bothersome at times. Still, it barely dents how good the actors are, especially Bale as Trevor.
Brad Anderson has never really been considered a good director. From the various work of television shows to some terrible films such as "The Call", Anderson is not likely getting a resurgence in his career anytime soon. The saddest thing about this is that from watching this movie, you can tell he has the talent to be a great filmmaker. The film carries this grey, bleak, dirty, almost ugly aesthetic to it, as it represents the condition that Trevor is forcing himself to live as. It can feel a bit warmer or even gothic whether or not the scene is in Stevie's apartment or Trevor's apartment, but for the most part, the film carries this unpleasant art design. While it seems that the dull colour filter is the only thing the film is going for, there's occasionally some visual striking scenes and contrasts of colour, particularly when it focuses on Ivan's red car and the dark ride sequence. The cinematography by Xavi Gimenez is also great in fitting with the tone as it helps make the viewer uncomfortable. The close-ups in particular hold on to the subject, whether it's a post-it note or Trevor's tired face, just long enough to give the viewer chills. The score by Rosque Banos tends to be rather minimalistic or faint for the most part as for the typical unhinged psychological thriller. Whenever there is music, it sounds extremely stock. However, by the time the ending occurs, the score suddenly gets really good and even emotionally beautiful. As for the ending itself, I really don't want to give it away, since I feel not a lot of people were aware of the film or the twists and turns it contains. It's just really a shame that Anderson went from making a fantastic film to just dropping off from the face of the Earth.
"The Machinist" is a criminally underrated film that contains some of the best elements one can wish in a psychological thriller. From a tense-fuelled story, gritty tone that carries a brutal reality that is starting to blur into fantasy, Bale's overlooked Oscar-worthy performance as Trevor that demonstrates both the best of method acting determination as well as the actor's best dramatic efforts, Ivan as a fantastic metaphor who works as the film's mystery for the identity of the antagonist, the side characters are, for the most part, relatable with great actors filling out the roles with such talent and sincerity, Gimenez's nerve-wrecking cinematography, Banos's score proves to be quite effective at the right parts despite some stock music on occasion, and Anderson's best film to date with the occasional flair that stands out from the grey aesthetic along with the great uses of symbology and themes that add to the unbalanced realism of the world-building. While all of this sounds like it's a masterpiece of the genre, there is one issue that holds it back from being truly excellent. The side or minor characters tend to feel a bit unrealistic in regards to their viewpoint or actions towards Trevor despite how he's clearly unwell. While it might be in design due to the fragmented mind of Trevor, scenes such as the break-up between him and Stevie, Miller's lose of an entire arm and his rather pleased condition, or Trevor outrunning two police officers after being run over earlier in his fragile body feel a bit over-the-top for what the tone, context and details of the characters make them out to be. Again, maybe everything I said is meant to be ambiguous due to the uneven reality, but too much of it happens that it personally makes me bothered at times. Regardless, this is still a fantastic psychological thriller with some great themes, filmmaking, atmosphere, and performance by the gift that is Christian Bale.
Verdict: 9/10. Almost perfect if scenes or characters feel a bit more true in nature, but a great film nonetheless. If you love Bale as an actor and never heard and/or seen this film, check it out to experience him as the best he ever was.
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