The Machinist (Brad Anderson, 2004) is a psychological thriller about a troubled man who experiences strange hallucinations which begin to piece together and remind him of a terrible event which took place a year before the film is set.
Christian Bale's wonderful performance brings to life a man who "would not exist" if he was any thinner. Clearly dedicated to the role, Bale lost 63 Pounds in order to portray insomniac Trevor Reznik; he creates a very in depth character which I found to be very believable and original.
The use of colder colours throughout The Machinist offer an unsettling tone to the film and help the viewer to identify with the gritty world. There isn't a particular amount of cinematographic 'flare' but it is not something I feel is a necessity in such performance driven film. The use of cold filters are the only notable aspect of the movie's cinematography but they are used subtly and offer a very original look to the film.
The score for the film was very interesting. At parts, a friend and myself noted that it was somewhat reminiscent of some of the music from Star Wars (NOT the most known Star Wars theme or the theme of Darth Vader).
In terms of narrative, I would say it is extremely good, I did not notice any major plot holes or issues. The twist of the film was perfectly executed and brought together all the pieces of the film. Foreshadowing and subtle hints were made throughout the film which were tied up nicely when the twist is revealed making for an overall intense but concise plot that provokes thought and something I found very interesting.
The Machinist is very cleverly written and executed and such a smart and concise manner. I found the film extremely entertaining as well as thought provoking and, in parts, traumatising.
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