Big Picture Big Sound

The Film

Before he donned the muscles of Batman, Christian Bale dropped over 60 pounds to play Trevor Reznik, a machinist with a bad case of insomnia.

"If you were any thinner, you wouldn't exist," says airport waitress Marie (Aitana Sánchez-Gijón). She isn't just whistling Dixie, either. This guy is gaunt. Maybe it's because he hasn’t slept in a year. Maybe it's because he seems to be going slightly crazy. The crazy doesn't exactly endear him to co-workers either -- well that, and the fact that he's responsible for one losing an arm. In fact, the only two people that seem to show him any sympathy are the aforementioned Marie and a loving prostitute named Stevie (Jennifer Jason-Leigh).

To say that The Machinist is weird and slightly disturbing is an understatement. Just looking at Bale in the film's first few minutes should give you an inkling at what kind of ride you're about to embark on. Stick around, though, because all of the head-scratching you might do through the film's 101-minute runtime is not in vain; it does add up by the end.

The Picture

While many might appreciate a shirtless Bale in other films, there is nothing more disturbing in this 2.35:1 transfer. Some of the movie's most detailed moments are those, where you get to see every vertebrae of Bale's shell, which is thinner than Kate Moss in her prime. The rest of The Machinist is dark and drab. Every person and place that Trevor encounters seems to have a twinge of dank. The black levels are deep, but there is some grain and the overall detail could be a bit better. It does have it's moments though; the ones with Bale's fading physique and a rain sequence are most noteworthy.

The Sound

As if this film could get any creepier, the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 sound does a nice job of delivering additional heebie jeebies. While it's not exactly demo material, the audio does add a lot to what's going on in the movie. From tires squealing to machine shop noise to the Roque Baños' soundtrack; everything sounds very subdued, only adding to the eerie almost ethereal feeling of this film.

The Extras

If you find The Machinist to be complex and confusing, the extras will be of great interest. Director Brad Anderson discusses some of the driving forces behind the film in the commentary. However, the two most interesting featurettes are "Manifesting The Machinist" and "The Machinist: Hiding in Plain Sight." Neither one is new to this Blu-ray release, but both help to fill in some of the blanks.

Final Thoughts

While we wouldn't classify The Machinist as a horror flick, it certainly ranks high on the creepy meter. The movie is interesting and the imagery is dark and slightly disturbing. However, it's Bale that's the real show -- and not just for his freaky, dramatic weight loss. While we'd put this film on the must-see list, we're guessing it won't make it into your regular rotation, for content or demo purposes. Still, it's more than worthy of a rental.

Where to Buy:

• The Machinist on Blu-ray Disc (Amazon.com)

Product Details

• Actors: Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, John Sharian, Michael Ironside
• Director: Brad Anderson
• Audio/Languages: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (English), Dolby Digital 5.1 (French, Spanish)
• Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Region: A
• Number of Discs: 1
• Rating: R
• Studio: Paramount Pictures
• Blu-ray Disc Release Date: May 19, 2009
• Run Time: 101 minutes
• List Price: $29.99
• Extras:
• Commentary by Director Brad Anderson
• Manifesting The Machinist
• The Machinist: Hiding in Plain Sight
• The Machinist: Breaking the Rules
• Deleted Scenes
• Theatrical Trailer