7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A factory lathe operator suffers from a serious case of insomnia, wearing down on his brain and his body.
Starring: Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, John Sharian, Michael IronsidePsychological thriller | 100% |
Surreal | 60% |
Drama | 39% |
Mystery | 36% |
Imaginary | 31% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
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.'
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 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 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 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.
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