Product ReviewsThe Machinist (DVD, 2005, Widescreen Collection)

A pretty good psycho-thriller, even for non-machinists

I like psycho-thrillers in general, and I used to be a machinist, so this seemed like a good fit for me, and it was. It keeps you guessing throughout about what is really going on vs. what is just the lead character's perception of what is going on. It is fairly graphic in a few places, but not excessively so. Almost too realistic for me, having spent years in a similar environment. A couple times I nearly stopped watching because I thought I knew what was going to happen next and that it would be quite unpleasant, but it's sort of like a train wreck, you can't look away... Christian Bale is halloween-scary thin, and it adds a lot to the character. If you've ever not slept long enough to where things started getting weird, you will find this quite believable. Well worth the cost of the DVD, but I don't know that it would be worth a $50 date night on the big screen.Read full review...

Figure It Out, Pay Close Attention.

This is one of those movies which keeps your interest. You may have to watch it a couple of times to understand what the main character is all about. Would not recommend watching it with young children as it has a few satanic undertones. Wish the writer had found a way around that part of the story but then it wouldn't true to life, unfortunately.Read full review...

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The Machinist (2005, DVD)

There's madness in the Method as Christian Bale turns himself into the incredible shrinking man in The Machinist. Dropping 63lbs for the role, Bale plays Trevor Reznik - a factory machinist whose sanity begins to waver after he accidentally maims a colleague and becomes convinced that he's the victim of a secret conspiracy. Transforming himself into a walking skeleton - all sunken cheeks and protruding ribcage - Bale enlivens an otherwise ho-hum thriller with a bag o' bones star turn.

"If you were any thinner you wouldn't exist," whispers call girl Jennifer Jason Leigh, who, along with single-mom coffee shop waitress Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, takes an interest in our hero. Scrubbing his hands with bleach, eating nothing, and suffering from monumental insomnia (he claims he hasn't slept for a year), Reznik is obviously scarred by some awful past incident. When new co-worker Ivan (John Sharian) starts bugging him and weird Post-It-Notes appear on his fridge, it's obvious that the stick man is about to snap.

"IT'S THE SCREENPLAY THAT'S ANOREXIC"

You'll join the dots in Anderson's thriller within the first five minutes - a real crying shame since Bale deserved much more for his pound - or 63 - of flesh. As The Machinist meanders towards its inevitable conclusion there are some nice touches: the machine grey colours and the Memento-style confusion. Ironically, though, it's the paper-thin screenplay that really turns out to be anorexic as it squanders the star's unsettlingly masochistic physical transformation for the sake of a formulaic tale of ordinary madness. Talk about slim pickings.
{Mrs. Puman}.Read full review...

The Machinist Was Creepy, Suspenseful and Surprisingly Deep!

I'm a big fan of Christian Bale (Equilibrium, The Fighter, Terminator Salvation and Public Enemies) and when I saw how much weight he lost to play this role I had to see it. Must be that good. Bale plays Trevor Reznik a man who works as a machinist in a gritty, dirty shop where none of his co-workers like him. He visits a prostitute played by Jennifer Jason Leigh for comfort and companionship and seems to be a very lonely man. I must admit - when I started to watch this movie I had no idea that it would have so many twists and turns. But when a man hasn't had any sleep in over a year, there is a very good reason for it. And the fact that he did not eat much either - had to take a serious toll on his mental state, too. This movie had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what and why. The scene at the shop with his co-worker getting his hand mangled because of him was gritty and gut wrenching. But after watching it and trying to figure him out, I was not prepared for what had transpired - the reason why he was the way he was. Very good movie with lots of emotion, good acting and not a lot of blood and gore. It really surprised me and it will do the same to you too. Very dark, gritty and morbid but you get to sleep at the end. WOW!Read full review...

The Machinist DVD

With the present uprising of Christian Bale in several great movies (The Prestige, Batman, Harsh Times), I decided to venture into one of his earlier works to see what he was like before he gained widespread notoriety. I had heard of The Machinist from a friend who was blown away by it; needless to say, so was I. Never before have I witnessed such a committment and devoutness of an actor/actress to encapsulate a characters' persona by risking his/her health by losing a dangerous amount of weight. Bale's performance and appearance leave one in pleasant shock in The Machinist. This psychological flick may be easy for some to unravel its plot before movie's end, but this does not take away from Bale's commanding performance/committment to making this character believable. This movie exemplifies the extremes that Bale is willing to go through to make a movie/character the best it can be. Anyone who has seen this movie should know what I am talking about. This must be seen to be believed because words alone don't do this justice. Whether or not you are familiar with Christian Bale, prepare yourself for a great performance when viewing The Machinist. I think it's safe to say that the health risks Bale takes to become a "walking skeleton" in this movie will remain second to none. This is destined to become a cult classic. A must for psychological movie lovers and any movie buff in general. See for yourself.Read full review...

The Machinist

The movie was good. It has a lot of action in it. I bought it for my daughter who likes Christian Bale. The buyer was great. Definitely someone who I who buy from again. I bought my daughter three movies at the same time with Christian Bale in it. This is her favorite one.
Everything the movie has written in the back to describe the movie was correct. To me it is definitely worth buying.
If you are a Christian Bale fan, this is one DVD movie you have to have for your collection. I am so glad that I bought this movie. It was worth it.Read full review...

Christian Bale Fan

I love all Christian Bale movies and did not see this when it was released

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Great film--May Become a Cult Classic.

Great performance by Christian Bale, and a creepy atmosphere. The film keeps you guessing until the end, and the denouement is hits like a freight train. A good movie for people who like to think; many visual clues. Read full review...

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Twisted, Dark, Sad,

A compelling story with a twist in a dark and gritty mood. Bale nearly destroyed himself for this roll, but it really brings the story to life.

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Love Christian Bale

Great movie!!!!!!

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