The Machinist

2004
R
1h 41m

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

424K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer2:33

Psychological Thriller Drama Thriller

An industrial worker who hasn't slept in a year begins to doubt his own sanity.An industrial worker who hasn't slept in a year begins to doubt his own sanity.An industrial worker who hasn't slept in a year begins to doubt his own sanity.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

424K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

1,885

365

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 7 wins & 15 nominations total

Trivia
The producers of the film claim that Christian Bale dropped from about 173 pounds in weight down to about 110 pounds in weight to make this film. They also claim that Bale actually wanted to drop down to 100 pounds, but that they would not let him go below 120 out of fear that his health could be in too much danger if he did. His diet consisted of one can of tuna and an apple per day. His 63-pound weight loss is said to be a record for any actor for a movie role. He regained the weight in time for his role in Batman Begins (2005).

Goofs
In the bathroom of The Boiler Room, Trevor knocks down the right soap dispenser. However, in the next shot it is up again.

Quotes
Trevor Reznik: Stevie, I haven't slept in a year.
Stevie: Jesus Christ!
Trevor Reznik: I tried him too.

Connections
Featured in The Machinist: Breaking the Rules (2005)

Soundtracks
Lunar Rhapsody
Written by Buddy Feyne (as Budy Feine) & Harry Revel
Worldwide Publisher Michael H. Goldsen Inc.; Sub-Publisher for Spain and Portugal Alondra Music, S.L.
Performed by Les Baxter
(p) 1948 Capitol Records
Licensed by EMI Music (Spain), Madrid, Spain 2004
Special products department - exclusive assignee

User reviews630

Review

Featured review

8/10

Dostoyevsky and The Machinist

I really enjoyed this film. It reminded me of 21 Grams, Jacob's Ladder and Memento. Perhaps the finale left a few questions unanswered or felt a little anti-climactic but an amazing performance by Christian Bale. Haunted, brave, vulnerable, murderous but also very moving. A film which stays with you.

Now, here's an eggheaded thing, but did anyone notice the constant stream of Dostoyevsky references in the movie? Not only did Resnick (remind anyone of Raskolnikov?) put down a copy of Dostoyevsky's The Idiot at one point but the whole movie owed a lot to Notes From The Underground, Crime And Punishment and The Double. Did anyone spot the sign in the Ghost Train sequence which read Crime And Punishment? Or that Sharian's character is called Ivan (cf The Brothers Karamazov - especially the chapter Ivan's Dream)? Jennifer Jason Leigh's character is very familiar from Dostoyevsky, as was the saintly Maria.

Its a cracking film and none of these references are indispensable to enjoying it but I thought I would point it out.