The Machinist: Visually interesting but disconnected plot

Defines of the word "commitment", in the context of acting, in what is otherwise a barely entertaining picture, filled with clichés.

The Machinist is a great display of Bale's ability, but lacks as a movie

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The Machinist is unsettling and intriguing but its plot is quite disconnected and "all over the place". The whole movie seems to be a large first act, setting up, but lacking development, only to end with very little payoff. I understand the concept behind the movie's structure, with its almost banal ending, as it wants to remove the aspiring grandiosity from the plot, and bring it down to Earth, but it turns out to just leave you disappointed, as the core of the story is actually quite underwhelming. [...]

If we analyze the plot, we see that Trevor's hallucinations are completely unrealistic. Of course it makes sense for him to project the boy he ran over (who he named Nicholas) and his mother (Maria) on to his delusional imagination, as he tries to "make up" for his mistake. It also makes sense for him to create a person on whom to put all his evil (Ivan). Where it starts to fall apart, is when he not only introduces these characters of his imagination into his daily life (which would be perfectly logical), but starts to create entire situations and contexts that did not happen at all, such as the day at the amusement park with Nicholas and Maria.

Another thing that seems strange to me, is that Trevor is fully aware of his deteriorating physical condition, and seems to be quite shocked with it, yet does not look for any kind of solution, such as maybe seeing a doctor. Of course he would not look for any psychological/psychiatric advise, as he is unaware of his mental issues during most of the film, but there is nothing stopping him from seeking help for his physical health.

But above all that, the most bothersome issue with this film, is the lack of progression in his awareness of reality. Trevor does not go through a period of doubt, where he gradually starts to question his sanity, but rather has total confidence in his thoughts, and is certain about a widespread conspiracy against him, until suddenly, almost from one scene to the next, he gains comprehension about reality, realizing that much of what he believed in was a creation of his mind, and that he was actually completely delusional.

Actually, the appeal of this picture is merely in Christian Bale's hugely disturbing state, and stellar physical acting. Though, to be fair, the film is fairly visually interesting, but ends up seeming more like a demo reel for the cinematographer (Xavi Giménez) and for Bale, than an actual progressing story.

Furthermore, looking into other aspects of film-making, the soundtrack is comprised of the most cliché possible, spooky mood-setting music/sound, that lacks any form of creativity, and has been used (and now mostly even fallen in disuse) for decades. Also, keeping with things from decades ago, it is impossible not to mention the antagonist's completely out of place "evil laugh", that will remind you of productions from the '60s, such as the terrific Thunderbirds.

In the end, this movie is a display of Bale's astounding ability to change shapes (contrasting for example, with his terrific form in the Batman movies, and his overweight role in American Hustle), and is also a good representation of his acting abilities, though that can be witnessed in far superior movies as well.

What did you think of The Machinist? What are your thoughts on Bale's aspect and performance? Share your thoughts in the comments bellow!