La Machine

Saturday night we went to see "The Machinist" in the City. I went primarily because I like Christian Bale in basically everything he's done, and I had heard that he lost an absurd amount of weight for this film.

You have no idea what thin is until you see this movie.

Bale is basically emaciated to the point of Adrian Brody in the Pianist. Now...i hate to say this, but I'm not sure I understand or agree with the artistic statement in this case. Brody's choice was clearly a personal one, with deep meaning on a topic that he took extremely seriously. Bale is starring in a horror movie...and although it's shot beautifully, is really "just a film". Being no film critic, I should probably shut up now. But I found it a little bit troubling that someone would suffer for their art, when the statement the art is making is not really that deep.

Yes, the movie is interesting, visually appealing, and sticks in your head for a few hours after you leave the theatre. But I don't know that I'll think about it in the same terms as I think of the Pianist.

One thing's for sure. Bale should pass around that diet he used. People would love to know how to lose that much weight.