- 8
Whether this or any other movie part ever justifies the kind of health risk Bale took is debatable, but The Machinist clearly benefits from the actor's devotion to his role.
—Pam Grady Reel
- 8
...confusing plot twists aside, the movie's grim style and Bale's desperate performance maintain a constant state of unrest that'll ensure you won't sleep easy anytime soon.
—Paul Ulane Maxim
- 8
...a bleak, nerve-jangling psychodrama...
—Megan Lehmann New York Post
- 8
Though the film starts slowly, it unfolds irresistibly, thanks mainly to Bale's full-bodied, soulful performance.
— E!
- 7
...one of the few movies to scale the barrier between chilly fantasy and authentic cinematic nightmare.
—Stephen Holden New York Times
- 7
Effectively weirded-out chiller...
—David Sterritt Christian Science Monitor
- 7
...director Brad Anderson, working from a screenplay by Scott Kosar, wants to convey a state of mind, and he and Bale do that with disturbing effectiveness.
—Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times
- 7
Director Brad Anderson tightens the screws of suspense, but it's Bale's gripping, beyond-the-call-of-duty performance that holds you in thrall.
—Peter Travers Rolling Stone
- 7
...a moody psychological thriller with a stunning performance by Christian Bale at its core.
—Achy Obejas Chicago Tribune
- 6
For the most part the film is mesmerizing, with its star, Christian Bale, having lost 63 pounds to play the title role to assuredly disturbing effect, but its payoff, while clever and even ingenious, is not quite stunning enough to live up to a boldly bleak and unrelenting buildup.
—Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times
- 6
The punch line isn't really good enough to justify Bale's queasy-making physical transformation but really -- what could?
—Maitland McDonagh TV Guide
- 6
...an intriguing thriller...
—Leah Rozen People
- 5
...atmospheric but shallow...
—Ed Gonzalez Slant Magazine
- 4
...ultimately disappointing...
—Kim Morgan LA Weekly
- 4
...a grimy, excessively art-directed psychological horror flick...
—Lisa Schwarzbaum Entertainment Weekly
- 4
The Machinist isn't really a film at all. It's more of an idea, like the premise for a Twilight Zone episode or the skeleton of a 20-minute short film awkwardly stretched to feature length.
—Peter Debruge Premiere
- 3
...a fetid mood piece...
—Dennis Lim Village Voice
- 3
...a muddled neo-noir...
—Nathan Rabin Onion AV Club