A little guilt goes a long way...
Trevor Reznik (Christian Bale), a machinist, has lost the ability to sleep. But this is no ordinary insomnia. Trevor has not slept in a year. Fatigue has led to a shocking deterioration of his physical and mental health. Suspicious of his appearance, Trevor's co-workers first shy away from him, then turn against him after he's involved in a shop accident that costs a man his arm. They blame Trevor for the accident. He has become a liability to himself and others, and now they want him out.
Plagued with guilt, Trevor's shame becomes suspicion, then paranoia, when it appears his workmates are conspiring to have him fired - or worse. First he finds cryptic notes left in his apartment. Next he's told that a mysterious co-worker involved in the accident doesn't exist.
Are these mysteries part of a plot to drive Trevor mad? Or is it fatigue that's robbing him of his reason?
Determined to find an answer, Trevor investigates the strange occurrences that are turning his world into a sleepless nightmare. Yet the more he learns, the less he wants to know.
Special Agent Matti
The machinist would be a more compelling film if it hadn't been preceded by Memento and 21 grams. You do get to see Christian Bale looking so thin you could blow him over with a butterfly - and not a special effect in sight. Talk about dedication (or insanity, but you have to be insane to be an actor).
M (Adult themes, sexual references, medium level coarse language, medium level violence)
102 minutes (1:42 hours)
Film: 2 June 2005
DVD rental: 15 September 2005