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Review

With surprise endings becoming more and more a techinique used for little other than a roller-coaster sensation, The Machinist is a welcome film that keeps all its seams clean. The story follows a man with the most extreme insomnia and the ironic job he holds as the operator of a machine lathe. His growing inability to do his job results in misfortunes for himself and those who work with him. The only real human contact he has is with a hooker (Leigh) and and airport coffee shop waitress. Bale lost over 60 pounds to play the part, and the effect goes well beyond gimmicky – though his appearance is quite shocking, it’s a calculated step in getting into the mind of someone who hasn't "slept in a year." Very applaudable performances throughout, this is a haunting, dark film that takes you into the mind of a man wrestling with his own soul and the exhausted reality he lives without rest.

 -- Justin Hallman