The Machinist

Christian Bale works himself up into a frenzy in this psychological thriller/mystery. There is seriously something wrong with him, he cannot eat, he cannot sleep and he cannot remember. He has to resort to writing everything down on post-its in order to carry on a normal enough life to exist. He works in a factory with a bunch of guys and nobody likes him very much, lets just say he doesn’t have “friends”. As the movie progresses, he gets weirder, you will him out of his madness, but most shocking is the anorexic state that Bale has got himself into in order to make this film! There are a few red herrings but pay attention to detail it all adds up in the end. Summing up the film was dingy on the grey scale and dirgy like a day’s work in a lathe factory.

IMDB The Machinist

Trailer

Rating: 6.3/10

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The Dark Knight

This is undoubtably the best batman film.  As always there is a force of destructiveness and chaos upon Gotham city, this time, two villans are brought back.  Two face made an appearance as well as the Joker played by an incredible Heath Ledger who nearly stole the show from Christian Bale. He always had a funny quirky story to tell when he was talking to civilians.  Each time different but same ending!   The beginning is the classic bank robbery where you are introduced to Heath Ledger and his hench men.  The story is cliche and batman has to win the day.

Unfortunately Heath Ledger (Oscar for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role) did  pass away during the making of the film and replacement was used for the last bit of the film.  Christian Bale was almost a natural Batman.  At first a grumbly low quiet voice from a big bulky hench superhero was a bit funny, but Christian Bale was very serious and it suited the role perfectly. Michael Caine performed Alfred the butler again. I do like Michael Caine, but I found him weirdly annoying and was himself more than Alfred.

Good action movie.  More of a guy’s film though and I am so looking forward to The Dark Knight Rises!

IMDB The Dark Knight

Trailer

Rating: 7.9/10

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The Prestige

There are three parts to a trick, the pledge where you are shown something ordinary, the turn where the extraordinary happens with it and the prestige where there is a twist.   Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman are rival magicians who begin to sabotage and interfere with each others performances in order to damage their reputations.   When Christian Bale finds the ultimate illusion, their rivalry is fuelled and Hugh Jackman is obsessed with trying to recreate the illusion. Full of the amazing lengths magicians go to in order to wow their audience, much more than just smoke and mirrors and a rather clever ending.
IMDB The Prestige

Trailer

Rating 8.4/10

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