Review of The Machinist

The film The Machinist, with Christian Bale, was released in 2004 and directed by Brad Anderson. The plot centers around Bale’s character, Trevor Reznik, a industrial machinist who suffers from severe insomnia. Plagued by the condition for a year, Reznik has lost an unhealthy amount of weight and becomes increasingly paranoid. His only comfort is taken in late-night conversations with Marie, a waitress at an airport café and with Stevie, a prostitute with whom he shares a few emotional moments. Mysterious Post-It notes on his refrigerator and the arrival of a new co-worker that apparently only Reznik has spoken to begin a dark spiral that ends in an unsuspected twist.
The underlying message of the film is to show what guilt can do to the human mind and body. While the acting talent is not inconsiderable, the plotline and character development are what make this film what it is. The real entertainment stems from the mysterious signs that lead up to the conclusion. The progression of events keeps the audience guessing as to what will occur next and how it will affect Reznik and the other characters. On a more subtle note, there are a number of references to Dostoevsky: the writer of the film, Scott Kosar, stated that the script was influenced by Dostoevsky’s The Double. Other references stem from The Idiot, Crime and Punishment, and The Brothers Karamavoz.
Without giving away more of the film and not exceeding our blog’s suggested 300 word maximum, I will conclude by saying that this movie will keep the audience entertained and engrossed from the opening scene to the final one. The motif and overarching themes of paranoia and guilt create a powerful film that should not be missed.