Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Machinist Blu-ray Movie Review

Christian Bale's chilling performance comes to Blu-ray with good results from Paramount.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 4, 2009

Who are you?

Since his phenomenal performance in Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun, Christian Bale (3:10 to Yuma) has matured into one of Hollywood's biggest stars, showcasing a broad range of talent in smaller, more independently-minded films and summer blockbusters alike. From his terrifying performance as a status-obsessed and psychotic 1980s businessman in American Psycho to his portrayal as the most iconic comic book hero of all time in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, Bale has shown more range, charisma, and presence than most other actors working today. One of the last films he made before his popularity and stock soared in the Batman films, The Prestige, and the upcoming Terminator Salvation, The Machinist represents the actor's most haunting role, one that shows the utmost in devotion to his craft and cements his status as an actor with a talent that is second-to-none.

Christian Bale delivers a remarkable physical performance in 'The Machinist.'

Trevor Reznik (Bale) works at a machine shop, enjoys the company of women, and jokes with his co-workers. He seems to lead a normal life, save for the fact that he barely eats and hasn't slept in over a year. Trevor spends his evening in the arms of a prostitute, chatting with a waitress at his favorite diner, writing himself Post-it notes, reading, watching television, and obsessively scrubbing his bathroom floor. When Trevor is directly involved in an accident that costs one of his co-workers, Miller (Michael Ironside, Starship Troopers), a left arm, Trevor's already confused life further unravels. To assuage his regrets and in his search for meaning and acceptance in his life, Trevor finds solace in the arms of a caring prostitute named Stevie (Jennifer Jason Leigh, Synecdoche, New York) and at the counter of his favorite midnight diner in the form of a pleasant and understanding waitress named Marie (Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, A Walk in the Clouds). While he develops a camaraderie with each woman that seems to be leading to a real, meaningful relationship, Trevor begins to notice strange occurrences, including the appearance of a new co-worker named Ivan (John Sharian) whom nobody else has ever seen and the appearance of Post-it notes on his refrigerator that set-up a game of Hangman. As Trevor attempts to solve these mysteries, his past slowly comes into focus as it catches up with his confused, ill, and depressing present.

The Machinist is Horror at its best, a truly psychological and deeply disturbing piece that examines terror in its most raw form: that which lives inside every man. Trevor displays signs of instability both mentally and physically; as his body deteriorates, so do his mental capacities. He hallucinates, begins to have trouble discerning reality from fiction, and the story begs the question, "what is real, and what is not?" Neither Trevor nor the audience may answer until the final moments of the film. One man's struggle with his very essence -- living in a state of severe physical decline, confusion, uncertainty, and self-doubt -- represents a horror that supersedes all others. While there is certainly room in the Horror genre for slice-and-dice gore pictures, The Machinist truly captures the very essence of the genre and both frightens and captivates at once. Director Brad Anderson (Transsiberian) lends to the film a slow, deliberate pace that allows the exposition to develop, the mysteries to remain shrouded, and the character to come full circle as he attempts to piece together the puzzle of his very existence.

Visually, each shot reflects the tone of the film. The Machinist looks appropriately dreamy and visually detached from reality. The visuals are subtly hypnotic and somewhat faded and the score quiet and minimized but effective in its presence. The whole of the experience seems to reflect Trevor's life, which is devoid of certainty and realism. The Machinist presents a surreal series of events surrounded by equally surreal imagery, but remaining ever-so-slightly planted in reality so as to add a tremendous amount of doubt and confusion as to where the story is going and, therefore, where Trevor has been. The film's primary asset, of course, is the man who plays Trevor, Christian Bale. Delivering one of the finest efforts of his career, Bale offers a spellbinding and haunting performance. From a mental and emotional perspective, Bale embodies his character wonderfully, never hinting as to the true secrets behind the film and engaging the audience from beginning to end with a completely believable and chilling effort. Physically, Bale's transformation is nothing short of frightening, but at the same time, captivating. His massive weight loss shows not only dedication to the role and his craft but a level of self-discipline that is both admirable and commendable. Bale becomes his character in a way few other actors have ever embraced a role, and, simply stated, his represents one of cinema's most challenging, effective, and memorable dramatis personae to date.

The Machinist Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Machinist works on Blu-ray with a 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. The film features a deliberately drab look and muted color palette. The employee locker room, the inside of the machine shop, and the airport diner Trveor frequents, for example, all offer a practically monochromatic look and a steely, gray appearance that practically sucks the life out of the image, clearly reflecting the struggles of the lead character. Even the exterior shots are generally marked by overcast skies and white and gray vehicles and buildings. Scenes with brighter colors and sunshine -- such as that at an amusement park in chapter seven -- appear particularly dull and devoid of vibrancy. Skin tones appear ghastly through most of the film. The level of visible detail is average, though it seems the transfer brings out just about everything that may be seen in the context of the intended look of the film. Black levels are generally strong, never veering towards a shade of gray. Speckles, spots, and scratches may be seen occasionally over the print. Grain is also visible throughout. The Machinist isn't the sort of movie that Blu-ray fans will use to showcase the strength of the format. In this instance, that's fine, because while the disc isn't as eye-popping as others, it does what Blu-ray does best, which is to recreate as well as currently possible the intended look of the film for home viewing.

The Machinist Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Machinist comes to Blu-ray with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Like the video, this one is no system-seller, though it does replicate the film's subdued sound design nicely enough. The sounds inside the machine shop offer little in the way of aggressive or even noticeable atmospherics. It's confined mostly to the front soundstage, though the spinning and cutting of the various machines can be heard somewhat distinctly across the front. Other sound effects -- the distant rumble of thunder, for example -- are heard discretely but not all that loudly in the background. Music plays with a generally subtle and rarely aggressive push, be it the primary score or light background music in a bar. A scene inside a haunted house offers a bit more audible atmospherics about the soundstage, but nothing too boisterous. What the track is, though, is clear, crisp, creepy, and natural. Supported by strong dialogue reproduction, The Machinist sounds as good as one may expect of it on Blu-ray.

The Machinist Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Machinist debuts on Blu-ray with an assortment of average-in-quantity but incredibly-high-in-quality bonus materials. First up is a commentary track with Director Brad Anderson. The director serves up a track that is both solid and informative. He covers all the bases, discussing the background of the project, the filming locations, the score, the acting, the influences on the film, and more. While delivering precise and expected information, Anderson keeps the track flowing and easy to listen to. Fans should enjoy this one a great deal. Next is Manifesting 'The Machinist' (1080p, 23:00), an upper-tier descriptive piece that focuses on the themes of the film, the writing of the script, and the performances, accompanied by strong interview snippets with cast, crew, and critics. 'The Machinist:' Hiding in Plain Sight (1080p, 13:58) examines the objects, scenes, and plot devices scattered throughout the film that hint to the reality behind the mystery. 'The Machinist:' Breaking All the Rules (480p, 25:19) takes viewers behind-the-scenes of the making of the film, featuring raw footage from the set and additional cast and crew interviews, Christian Bale included. Rounding out the special features are eight deleted scenes (480p, 12:05) and the film's theatrical trailer (480p, 2:32).

The Machinist Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Machinist represents pure, relatable, and terrifying Horror at its finest, the film punctuated by one of Christian Bale's great physical and dramatic performances. It manages to get everything absolutely right, from the look of the film and the characters to the subdued yet effective score. With neither a wasted shot nor and extraneous line of dialogue, The Machinist represents subtle yet incredibly effective Horror filmmaking at its peak. Paramount's Blu-ray release of The Machinist isn't quite as captivating as the film, but it gets the job done in every area. Featuring a strong video presentation, a lossless soundtrack that reflects the subdued nature of the mix, and a fascinating array of supplements, fans and newcomers alike should be satisfied with this release. The Machinist comes highly recommended.