The latest trend in Hollywood does not occur in the script, but on the weight scale. Renee Zellweger shrunk down for her role in "Chicago," then put on weight to appear more "average" in the "Bridget Jones" sequel. Christian Bale sheds some pounds for his new role in "The Machinist." Well, a few pounds would be an understatement; Bale's new look resembles that of "Ally McBeal's" Calista Flockhart.
The use of disturbing images and a demented story fill this new film by independent film director Brad Anderson to the brim, just about to the point of wanting to throw it up.
Bale plays Trevor Reznik, who works manual labor in a heavy machinery factory. He hasn't slept in about a year, so the highlight of his day normally comes from the cup of coffee and conversation he shares every night with the waitress at a small shop in the airport.
Besides that, the only other release from the consistency of his day is the occasional visit to the caring prostitute he shares with almost every other lonely guy looking for a good time.
The story really starts to turn towards the bizarre when Trevor runs into a large bald man by the name of Ivan (John Sharian). In any other world, a new friend would normally do a sane person some good, but for Trevor, the complete opposite happens.
A distraction from Ivan on the job ends up in a freak machine accident that costs a co-worker his arm. Trevor tries to explain what happened, but no one has ever heard of a worker named Ivan. This startling discovery starts Trevor on a hunt for a man who supposedly doesn't exist but holds the key to his sanity.
In Trevor's path to discovery, events just keep turning him in circles. From mysterious notes left on his fridge to the occasional encounter with the non-existent Ivan, Trevor keeps getting skinnier and drives himself more insane.
The only things good in his life are the waitress and the whore, and this search is pushing them farther out of his life until there is no one left but Ivan.
Christian Bale plays a convincing bulimic psychopath in this film. This dark look into the life of a factory worker made me realize I never want to work in a factory. Although the acting wasn't terrible, the story left me confused and rather sick to my stomach. After watching it I thought to myself, why would anyone want to watch this, and who comes up with these story lines? I would never pay to see this movie, and I am a little upset I wasted my gas just to go see it. This feeling of being sick to my stomach leaves me no choice but to give "The Machinist" one out of five pitchforks.
Reach the reporter at brian.kirshman@asu.edu.
