RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / Upcoming / The Machinist
The Machinist

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

The Machinist (2004)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
75 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:131

Fresh:98

Rotten:33

Average Rating:6.6/10

Consensus: A suspenseful low-budget thriller where Christian Bale completely inhabits his role.

Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins

Genre: Dramas

US Box Office: $939,471

Synopsis: Christian Bale delivers one of cinema's most sacrificial performances in Brad Anderson's mesmerizing thriller. Written by Scott Kosar (2003's THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE), THE MACHINIST takes place... Christian Bale delivers one of cinema's most sacrificial performances in Brad Anderson's mesmerizing thriller. Written by Scott Kosar (2003's THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE), THE MACHINIST takes place in a bleak and nondescript American city, where Trevor Reznick (Bale) is quite literally withering away to nothing. During the day Trevor works in a colorless industrial factory, while at night he seeks refuge in the bed of a tender prostitute, Stevie (Jennifer Jason Leigh). For reasons unknown even to Trevor, he hasn't been able to sleep for an entire year. In the process, he has shed over sixty pounds, making him look like a walking skeleton. After an accident at the factory costs Trevor his job, he finds himself tracking a mysterious figure that may or may not, in fact, provide some answers to his confusion. Meanwhile, he begins to connect with a pretty airport waitress, Marie (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon), who shows Trevor some much-needed sympathy. By the time the film builds to its revelatory conclusion, it becomes quite clear just what has been tormenting Trevor all along. Anderson and Kosar's vision is brought to spectacular life by cinematographer Xavi Gimenez and composer Roque Banos, whose haunting atmospherics recall the best work of Alfred Hitchcock. And then, of course, there is Bale, whose performance is as terrifying, brave, and devastating as the screen has ever seen. [More]

Starring: Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sanchez-Gijon, Michael Ironside

Starring: Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sanchez-Gijon, Michael Ironside, John Sharian

Director: Brad Anderson

Director: Brad Anderson
Screenwriter: Scott Kosar
Producer: Julio Fernandez
Composer: Roque Banos
Studio: Paramount Classics

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • Exclusive Clip: The Machinist
    >
1 of 1

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for The Machinist

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
 
 
121 - 135 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

A fairly standard issue psychological thriller, although Christian Bale's physical transformation for this film is truly astonishing.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
10/19/04
Phil Hall
Phil Hall
Film Threat

Reduces tragedy to a mere punch line, and as such its lead character exists less for himself and more for the gratification of the Memento fan club.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
10/18/04
Ed Gonzalez
Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine

Anderson tightens the screws of suspense, but it's Bale's gripping, beyond-the- call-of-duty performance that holds you in thrall.

Full Review Source: Rolling Stone | comment Comment
10/15/04
Peter Travers
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone

Even in a time when weight gains and losses in the service of a role have become commonplace, Bale has accomplished an astonishing change.

Full Review Source: AboutFilm.com | comment Comment
10/15/04
Carlo Cavagna
Carlo Cavagna
AboutFilm.com

Bale's performance, which is more than merely his physical transformation, keeps you in the story, even during its more surreal moments.

Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs | comment Comment
10/12/04
Scott Nash
Scott Nash
Three Movie Buffs

Pic's integrity is clinched by Bale, whose haunted, aggressive and finally wrenching performance gives The Machinist a strong anchor.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
09/29/04
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Director Brad Anderson is clearly going for more of a '70s character study vibe rather than that of a thriller, a decision which absolutely works.

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
09/12/04
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

Worth a look just to see the frighteningly thin Bale, and some nice washed-out photography from Xavi Giménez.

Full Review Source: Planet Sick-Boy | comment Comment
09/12/04
Jon Popick
Jon Popick
Planet Sick-Boy

Anderson builds up suspense quite brilliantly, using a deliberate pace that draws the viewer into Trevor's strange world.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
09/11/04
Lewis Beale
Lewis Beale
Film Journal International

Nowhere near so frightening as it pretends to be.

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
07/11/04
Donald J. Levit
Donald J. Levit
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

...one of the better movies that I've seen so far this year.

Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | comment Comment
05/30/04
JoBlo
JoBlo
JoBlo's Movie Emporium

A fractured puzzle of a film that continually toys with our expectations, yet never lets us see its entire hand until Anderson wants us to

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
02/13/04
Erik Childress
Erik Childress
eFilmCritic.com

The Machinist manages to forge something fresh and unique while clearly showcasing some affection for the film noirs and the twilight zones that came before.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
02/13/04
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com

So brave and visually impressive, it should demand an audience.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
01/27/04
Don R. Lewis
Don R. Lewis
Film Threat

In its very calibrations, from Scott Alan Kosar's edgy, spooky script to Anderson's provocative visualizations of Trevor's disintegrating mind-set, The Machinist is a gem.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
01/20/04
Duane Byrge
Duane Byrge
Hollywood Reporter
 
 
121 - 135 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
all

Latest News for The Machinist

December 01, 2006: The Weekly Ketchup: A Third "Starship Troopers," Jack Black Collaborates With Michel Gondry, Tension Between Fox And Marvel Over "X-Men," And More!
In this week's Ketchup, the campy classic "Starship Troopers" may finally get a proper successor with Casper Van Dien returning for "Starship Troopers 3"... More...

October 19, 2006: Critical Consensus: "Flags" Flies High; "The Prestige" Is Magic; "Flicka" Is A Pretty Good Ride; "Marie Antoinette" Spared Critical Guillotine
This week at the movies, we've got a complex tale of heroism (Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers," starring Ryan Phillippe), a story of dueling magicians... More...

December 16, 2005: London Movie Critics Present Their '05 Nominations
Movie City News shares with us a press release from the London Film Critics Group in which their various nominations are announced. Keep in mind that the Brit crits use their... More...

November 01, 2005: New Distributor Makes a "Fragile" Purchase
You might not be familiar with the name "Bauer Martinez" just yet, but if you're a frequent moviegoer, you'll know it soon enough. Bauer Martinez Distribution is a... More...

See All

More Movies

Coming Soon in Australia
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date

50% 50% It's Complicated 07/1

What’s Hot On RT

Inception Trailer

Inception Trailer

See the new trailer for Chris Nolan's latest

2010's Biggest Films

2010's Biggest Films

We preview all the new year's major releases

Best of the Decade!

Best of the Decade!

Find out what movies made our lists...

20 Must-See Films

20 Must-See Films

Our guide to the biggest and best films

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Weekly Ketchup: Annual Ketchup Edition
74
  • Harold Ramis Discusses Filmography, Teases Ghostbusters 3 Source: Heeb Magazine
16
  • National Film Registry Adds 2009 Selections Source: Hollywood Reporter
9
  • New Moon Tops Moviefone's 2009 List Source: Hollywood Reporter
30
  • Star Trek Tops 2009's Most-Pirated Movies List Source: Hollywood Reporter
19
  • Weekly Ketchup: Peter Jackson's Secret Sci-Fi Project
111
  • New Toy Story 3 Clip, Photos Posted Source: Slashfilm
26
  • Danny Trejo Talks Machete, Possible Sequels Source: Collider.com
14
  • It's Official: Jackass 3-D Coming in 2010 Source: Collider.com
16
  • Bryan Singer Returning to X-Men for First Class Source: Superhero Hype
102
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Critics Choose Must-Sees and Worsts of 2009
262
  • RT Editors Choose Their Favorite Films of 2009!
145
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar Continues Its Run In 2010
109
  • RT's Ten Most Popular Movies of 2009
98
  • Total Recall: New Year's Eve Movies
44
  • Weekly Ketchup: Annual Ketchup Edition
37
  • Five Favorites of the Five Favorite Films of 2009
32
  • Friday Harvest: Eclipse, Robin Hood, and more!
29
  • Critics Consensus: The White Ribbon Is Certified Fresh
24
  • Awards Tour: The Hurt Locker Wins Big At National Society of Film Critics Awards
23
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
74
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
22
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
24
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • RT on DVD: Wassup, Bruno
3
  • Scott Hicks Talks The Boys Are Back
0
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
16
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • The Machinist at Rotten Tomatoes
  • The Machinist at IGN
  • The Machinist at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
40 Best Films of the 2000s
40 Best Films of the 2000s External Link

Last week, Moviefone offered us their worst films of the 2000s. Now see their 40 best!

Competitions
Win Funny People on DVD
Win Funny People on DVD External Link

We're giving away copies of Judd Apatow's latest.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo
About Us | Advertise | Contact Us | Press | Careers
IGN | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | Direct2Drive | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Game Sites | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | GIGA.DE | What They Play | Battlefield Heroes
By continuing past this page, and by your continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2010, IGN Entertainment, Inc. | Support | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! RSS Feeds
IGN’s enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA.
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.