7.7/10
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474 user 203 critic

The Machinist (2004)

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

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Jackson (as Larry Gilliard)
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Jones
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Matthew Romero Moore ...
Nicholas (as Matthew Romero)
Robert Long ...
Supervisor Furman
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Inspector Rogers
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Ferran Lahoz ...
Gonzales
...
Evangelisti
Norman Bell ...
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Storyline

Trevor Reznik is a machinist in a factory. An extreme case of insomnia has led to him not sleeping in a year, and his body withering away to almost nothing. He has an obsessive compulsion to write himself reminder notes and keep track of his dwindling weight, both scribbled on yellow stickies in his apartment. The only person he lets into his life in an emotional sense is Stevie, a prostitute, although he has an infatuation with Maria, a single mother waitress working in an airport diner. His co-workers don't associate with and mistrust him because of not knowing what is going on in his life that has led to his emaciated physical appearance. A workplace incident further alienates him with his coworkers, and in conjunction with some unfamiliar pieces of paper he finds in his apartment, Trevor believes that someone or some people - probably one or some of his coworkers - are out to get him, using a phantom employee named Ivan as their front. As Trevor goes on a search for evidence as to... Written by Huggo

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

How can you wake up from a nightmare if you are not asleep? See more »

Genres:

Drama | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and disturbing images, sexuality and language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

3 December 2004 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

El maquinista  »

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$64,661 (USA) (24 October 2004)

Gross:

$1,082,715 (USA) (7 April 2005)
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Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (TV)

Sound Mix:

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Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Christian Bale found that his weakened condition caused problems in the more demanding action scenes. He found running a particular problem as he simply had no leg muscles left. See more »

Goofs

(at around 55 mins) Trevor flips the light switch a couple of times. The last time he does so, he flips it down, even though it is already down. However, an added clicking sound can be heard. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Ivan: Who are you?
See more »

Connections

References Jacob's Ladder (1990) See more »

Soundtracks

Lunar Rhapsody
(1948)
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
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Frequently Asked Questions

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User Reviews

 
Dostoyevsky and The Machinist
25 March 2005 | by (United Kingdom) – See all my reviews

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.


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