The Machinist Blu-ray Disc (Brad Anderson, 2004)

Paramount (USA)
2.35:1 1080p
101 minutes
Audio: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 English, DD 5.1 French, DD 5.1 Spanish
Subtitles: Optional English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Extras: audio commentary; Manifesting The Machinist; The Machinist: Hiding in Plain Sight; The Machinist: Breaking the Rules; deleted scenes; theatrical trailer

Released: 19 May 2009

Back when HD DVD was alive and kicking, I was amused by comments in Internet message boards discussing importing The Machinist on HD DVD from European sources. Given the lack of interesting movies on either the HD DVD or Blu-ray formats, I was intrigued by the movies available elsewhere. On a few occasions, I’ve spent more than $30 to buy one-disc DVD editions of single movies, but having been burned repeatedly by multiple dippings, I decided not to get into the importing game for HD DVD and Blu-ray. Besides, Christian Bale became a big star with Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, so there was a good chance that Paramount would release The Machinist on high-def optical disc here in the U.S.

Paramount timed the Blu-ray release to coincide with the theatrical release of Terminator: Salvation, also starring Bale. However, those of you familiar with Bale from his action roles (including Werner Herzog’s Rescue Dawn and that dragon movie headlined by Matthew McConaughey) will be in for a shock at seeing him in The Machinist. There’s no way to describe his appearance other than to state that he looks like someone who has been in a concentration camp for years. I remember reading that he ate nothing but cabbage soup and apples in preparation for this movie.

The Machinist is a quietly absorbing mystery drama. I don’t think of the movie as a mystery thriller because it doesn’t try to shock with scares, and it derives tension from the ethical and moral dilemmas that the characters face rather than from the usual “Who’s going to die now?” approach. Much of the movie is comprised of master shots captured with locked-down cameras and conversations between pairs of lonely people speaking in hushed voices. While the story doesn’t unfold in strict linear chronology, you don’t have to wrestle with the narrative construct in order to understand where the movie is headed.

Unfortunately, The Machinist was made and released soon after Christopher Nolan’s Memento. While déjà vu is a theme in The Machinist, déjà vu isn’t a desirable feeling when you’re not making a series of related movies. Sometimes, the late arrival is better than the early one (see The Others vs. The Sixth Sense), but being Number 2 means risking the “I just saw that!” response from viewers. The Machinist is a strong effort, but your mileage may vary depending on your tastes and mood.

Video:
You get a strong 2.35:1 1080p image with a high level of detail. The transfer is excellent at conveying the stark beauty of the cinematography, and the film grain has been preserved--no excessive DNR here. The sense of depth is wonderful and puts transfers of some “A-list” titles to shame. However, be prepared to see some print damage, particularly during the first five minutes. Usually, there are a few white dots/specks, though sometimes, you’ll see what appear to be white hairs.

Audio:
Although it’s nice to have a lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 English audio track, the sound design is generally minimalist in nature. As such, don’t expect a lot of activity from the front mains or the surround speakers, though I would argue that a minimalist sound design can be immersive in its own way. Silence and low-key ambient effects can envelope a viewer just as much as wall-to-wall noise. You might be surprised by how well the spare music score can unnerve you.

Extras:
This Blu-ray edition includes all of the extras found on the American DVD release and adds two new featurettes to the mix.

“Manifesting The Machinist” and “The Machinst: Hiding in Plain Sight” are the two new featurettes. The former is a retrospective study of the movie, and the director and screenwriter both contributed substantive peeks into how they developed the project. “Hiding in Plain Sight” examines the clues that lead up to the ending, though this movie isn’t really as involved as what one might consider a “puzzle film”.

You can watch the movie with an engaging audio commentary by the director. “The Machinist: Breaking the Rules” is a promo fluff piece that is tonally at odds with the actual movie, though you get to see some behind-the-scenes footage as well as interviews with Christian Bale (he’s absent from the new featurettes). There are several deleted scenes, and a few of them have optional director’s commentary. Finally, you also get a theatrical trailer.