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Machine shop worker Trevor Reznik (Christian Bale) hasn’t slept in a year. No matter what he does—no matter how tired he gets—he just can’t fall asleep. So he’s simply stopped trying. Instead, he spends his nights drinking coffee at the airport café, bleaching the grout in his bathroom, reading, and supporting his favorite prostitute, Stevie (Jennifer Jason Leigh).
Trevor’s lack of sleep has affected him physically, causing him to lose so much weight that he’s little more than a walking skeleton. But it seems that it’s affected him mentally, too. It gets so bad, in fact, that while he’s on the job one day, his carelessness causes a serious accident.
After the accident, Trevor’s coworkers no longer trust him. When strange notes start showing up in his apartment, Trevor suspects that his coworkers are out for revenge—and he’s pretty sure that the mysterious new guy, Ivan (John Sharian), has something to do with it.
The Machinist is an existential film—one that’s filled with rather obscure references to Dostoevsky. And, as such, it’s definitely not for everyone. It’s deep and heavy—and it’s pretty confusing at times, too. It’s so far from the mainstream, in fact, that director Brad Anderson couldn’t get a Hollywood studio to back it, so he had to turn to a Spanish production company instead. It’s appropriate, then, that the film feels like the stereotypical “foreign film.” It’s dark and dismal—shot in hazy, muted tones—and its subject matter is grim and somewhat perplexing.
The entire film has an unshakably eerie feel to it—thanks, in part, to the bleak settings and the haunted-house score. But perhaps the creepiest thing about the film is Bale himself. Before filming, he famously dropped down to a gaunt (and unhealthy) 120 pounds—and he’s so disturbingly emaciated that it often makes the film difficult to watch. At the same time, though, Bale also makes the film captivating. Trevor is definitely a far cry from Bale’s recent muscle-bound tough-guy roles in summer blockbusters, but this is where he truly excels—and he’s able to develop both drama and suspense in an otherwise heavy and austere film.
Still, while you could philosophize and debate all day about the references and symbolism in The Machinist, at its roots, it’s simply a film about guilt and redemption. It tells a haunting and poignant story that may not be fast-paced, but it’s certainly gripping. And although this isn’t a movie that you’ll want to pop into your Blu-ray player on Friday night for some brainless entertainment, if you’re in the mood for something deeper, The Machinist is sure to give you something to think about.
