El maquinista (2004)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Brad Anderson

Writer (WGA):

Scott Kosar (written by)

Release Date:

11 November 2004 (Germany)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

How do you wake up from a nightmare, when you're not asleep?

Plot:

An industrial worker who hasn't slept in a year begins to doubt his own sanity

Plot Keywords:

Post It | Hallucination | Insomnia | Machinist | Bad Smell

Awards:

7 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Christian Bale	...	Trevor Reznik
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Stevie
Aitana Sánchez-Gijón	...	Marie
John Sharian	...	Ivan
Michael Ironside	...	Miller
Larry Gilliard Jr.	...	Jackson (as Larry Gilliard)
Reg E. Cathey	...	Jones
Anna Massey	...	Mrs. Shrike
Matthew Romero Moore	...	Nicholas (as Matthew Romero)
Robert Long	...	Supervisor Furman
Colin Stinton	...	Inspector Rogers
Craig Stevenson	...	Tucker
Ferran Lahoz	...	Gonzales
Jeremy Xido	...	Evangelisti
Norman Bell	...	DMV Clerk
Nancy Crane	...	Waitress
Richard Torrington	...	Radiologist
Buffy Davis	...	Marge
Reg Wilson	...	Bartender
Ramon Camín	...	Detective
Christopher Hood	...	Drunk
Marc Aspinall	...	Inspector Daniels
Guillermo Ayesa	...	Old Fisherman
Daniel Ceren	...	Pedestrian
Marta Rubio	...	Woman in Crowd
Ewan Watson	...	Man in Crowd
Chike Johnson	...	Young Policeman
Molly Malcolm	...	Ticket Agent
Jaume Mimó	...	Man in Stall
Flora Álvarez	...	Woman in Stall
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Juan Carlos Guzmán	...	Extra
Ina Liza	...	Extra
James DePaul	...	Reynolds (uncredited)

Directed by
Brad Anderson

Writing credits (WGA)
Scott Kosar		(written by)

Produced by
Javier Arsuaga	....	line producer
Carlos Fernández	....	executive producer
Julio Fernández	....	producer
Teresa Gefaell	....	line producer
Antonia Nava	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Roque Baños

Cinematography by
Xavi Giménez		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Luis de la Madrid		(as Luis De La Madrid)

Production Design by
Alain Bainée

Art Direction by
Iñigo Navarro		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Héctor Gil

Costume Design by
Patricia Monné
Maribel Pérez

Makeup Department
Carlos Barea	....	prosthetics and special makeup effects
Alma Casal	....	key makeup artist
Pedro Raul De Diego	....	prosthetics and special makeup effects (as Pedro R. De Diego)
Berta García	....	prosthetics and special makeup effects
Rosana Gatell	....	prosthetics and special makeup effects
Nada Kuraica	....	preparatory hairdresser: Mr. Bale
Satur Merino	....	head hairdresser
Mariló Osuna	....	key makeup assistant
Irene Puche	....	prosthetics and special makeup effects
Yolanda M. Valbuena	....	key makeup assistant
Esther Villar	....	effects makeup artist

Production Management
Eduard Aguilo	....	production manager (as Eduard Aguiló)
Josep Amorós	....	production manager
Pascual Otal	....	production manager
Jesús L. Pérez Villar	....	post-production supervisor (as Jesús Pérez Villar)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Victor Cuadrado	....	fourth assistant director
Daniela Forn	....	first assistant director
Rodrigo Lamoso	....	additional assistant director
Sandra Manganell	....	additional assistant director (as Sandra G. Manganell)
Ivana Piqué	....	third assistant director
Eva Poveda	....	additional assistant director
Anna Rua	....	second assistant director
Rita Rubio	....	third assistant director
Montse R. Tixé	....	additional assistant director

Art Department
David Aguado	....	additional assistant art director
Antonia Agulló	....	additional assistant art director
Oriol Baucells	....	additional assistant art director
David Bennassar	....	additional assistant art director (as David Bennássar)
Alberto Bermejo	....	additional assistant art director
Llorenç Castanyer	....	additional assistant art director
Ferran Casterá	....	additional assistant art director
Nicolás Castro	....	additional assistant art director
David Codosero	....	additional assistant art director
José Ignacio Gandarias	....	additional assistant art director (as Ignacio Gandarias)
Ricard Garcia	....	graphic designer
Jaume Granell	....	graphic designer
Jordi Huguet	....	storyboard artist
María Losada	....	assistant set decorator
Iñigo Navarro	....	assistant art director (as Íñigo Navarro)
Fernando Pizarro	....	additional assistant art director
Jordi Segarra	....	graphic design manager
Octavi Segarra	....	graphic designer
Sergi Segarra	....	graphic designer
Sarah Sigaudes	....	trainee art director
Álvaro Soler	....	illustrator
Jordi Soler	....	on-set decorator
Silvia Steinbrecht	....	set dresser
Javier Tuñon	....	assistant on-set decorator
Cris F. Vila	....	props master (as Cris Vila)
Josh Fifarek	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Biel Cabré	....	boom operator
Biel Cabré	....	sound design assistant
Manuel Carrión	....	foley effects
Albert Manera	....	sound editor
Albert Manera	....	sound
Fabiola Ordoyo	....	sound editor
Marc Orts	....	mix engineer
Jaime Puig	....	consultant: Dolby (as Jaume Puig)
Juan Suárez	....	mix assistant
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Joan Fuste	....	atmospheric effects (as Joan Fusté)
Raúl Romanillos	....	mechanical effects

Visual Effects by
José María Aragonés	....	artistic & technical manager: Filmtel
Susana Argila	....	digital effects compositor: Filmtel
Gloria Bernabeu	....	digital effects compositor: Filmtel
Álex Blasco	....	film scanning: Filmtel
Ivan Busquets	....	digital compositor: Filmtel
Martin Contel	....	CG animation artist: Filmtel
Jordi Costa	....	CG animation artist: Filmtel
Ricardo Juan	....	conforming: Filmtel
Laura Maynadé	....	digital effects coordinator: Filmtel
Quico Noizeux	....	digital effects compositor: Filmtel
Joan Pardo	....	CG animation artist: Filmtel
Oskar Pérez	....	digital intermediate coordinator: Filmtel
Iñaki Sánchez	....	systems administrator: Filmtel
Jaime Torelló	....	digital effects compositor: Filmtel
Xavier Tribó	....	software development: Filmtel
Joan Carles Vendrell	....	CG animation artist: Filmtel
Jaume Vilaseca	....	digital effects supervisor: Filmtel
Jesús Luque	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Mitch Paulson	....	digital preview colorist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Luis Ayala	....	additional lighting technician (as Luís Ayala)
Charly Bujedo	....	additional lighting technician
Alexis Carreño	....	grip assistant
Albert Carreras	....	camera operator
Francesc Carreras	....	assistant camera
Pau Castejón	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Salva Castellarnau	....	grip assistant
Miguel Checa	....	Steadicam assistant
José Manuel Díaz	....	additional lighting technician
Ricard Durany	....	additional lighting technician
Óscar Faura	....	director of photography: second unit (as Oscar Faura)
Ángel Fernández	....	assistant lighting technician
Isabel Fernández	....	assistant lighting technician
Manuel Fernández	....	lighting technician
Georgina Ferrer	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Nicolás Geller	....	still photographer
Javi González	....	first grip
Juan Carlos Gorriz	....	assistant camera
Carles Guerrero	....	key grip (as Charly Guerrero)
Javier Guerrero	....	assistant lighting engineer
Emili Guirao	....	second assistant camera
Oriol Juliá	....	additional lighting technician
José Ángel Manrique	....	second grip
Enrique Martínez	....	assistant lighting technician
Roger Martínez	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Diego Moyano	....	lighting technician
Miguel Ángel Pérez	....	additional lighting technician
José Luis Rodríguez	....	lighting engineer
Carlos Rojals	....	video playback operator
Jordi Ruiz	....	lighting technician
Ramón Sánchez	....	Steadicam operator
Juan Torres	....	Steadicam assistant
Sandra Valencia	....	assistant lighting technician
Eduardo Valero	....	camera intern
David Valldepérez	....	second assistant camera
Debora Witte	....	additional lighting technician
Boris Zapata	....	additional lighting technician

Casting Department
Pep Armengol	....	casting: Spain
Wendy Brazington	....	casting: UK
Sheila Jaffe	....	casting: US
Mireia Juarez	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ester Grangel	....	additional wardrobe assistant
Núria Roig	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Maribel Asensio	....	editing
Félix Bueno	....	post-production assistant
José Calderón	....	editing
Guillermo De La Cal	....	first assistant editor
Álex De Molena	....	post-production assistant
Ricardo Guzman	....	second assistant editor: New York (as Ricardo Guzmán)
Manolo Millán	....	color grader
José Pedraza	....	digital color corrector
José Pérez	....	editing

Music Department
Roque Baños	....	orchestrator
Claudio Ianni	....	orchestrator
Lydia Kavina	....	musician: theremin
Mario Klemens	....	conductor
Queti Pazos	....	music producer
Zacarías M. de la Riva	....	orchestrator (as Zacarias Martinez)
Radovan Sancera	....	musician: concertino
José Vinader	....	music mixer
David Álvarez	....	music mixing assistant (uncredited)
José Vinader	....	score recordist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Lluís Botella Pont	....	actor's chauffeur: Taxi Internacional (as Lluís Botella)
Manel Burés	....	actor's chauffeur: Taxi Internacional
Juan Chavero	....	driver: electrician vehicle
Juan Julian Gonzalez	....	driver: generator truck (as Julián González)
J. Marín	....	driver: camera vehicle
Ángel Martínez	....	driver: electrician vehicle
Isidro Martínez	....	driver: generator truck
M. Millán	....	driver: wardrobe vehicle

Other crew
Mar Abadín	....	sales executive
Jon Aistui	....	traffic control
Alberto Álvarez	....	production assistant
Ivan Álvarez	....	production runner
Marc Álvarez	....	production assistant
Víctor Antolín	....	product manager
Oriol Aragay	....	financial department
Inés Arpa	....	sales assistant
Maica Avilés	....	press & promotion department
Eduardo Balada	....	financial manager
Glòria Blanes	....	script (as Glòría Blanes)
Mary Brites	....	production accountant
Vicente Canales	....	sales manager
Jordi Carbonell	....	web developer
Ginés Carrión	....	copyist
Cristina Carro	....	post-sales assistant
Luis Castillejo	....	messenger: SMP
Nacho Cerdà	....	making-of: Deliverance Pictures, S.L.
M. Dolores Clemente	....	assistant to general manager
Raquel Clemente	....	tv sales executive
Alfonso Delgado	....	computer department
Carlos Díaz	....	brand manager
Iván Díaz	....	post-sales manager
Francisco Domínguez	....	operations manager
Dandra Ejarque	....	press & promotion department
Silvia Elguer	....	tv sales executive
Dámaso Elkoroiribe	....	traffic control
Ruth Fernández	....	production runner
Angela Fillingham	....	dialogue coach
Mar Francolí	....	location manager
Rafael Gómez	....	production runner
Anna Güell	....	direction runner
Sergio Guirado	....	financial department
Juan Carlos Guzmán	....	stand-in
Jordi Homedes	....	financial manager
Miguel Ibáñez	....	additional production assistant
Meritxell Juncosa	....	production coordinator
Ina Liza	....	stand-in
Sandra Lomeña	....	financial department
Jordi López	....	production runner
Jaume Marfá	....	financial controller
Alberto Marini	....	development executive
Emilio Martínez	....	additional production assistant
Jordi Martínez	....	development
Daniel Mateu	....	production intern
Mary Kay McCoy	....	dialogue coach: Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Madrid (as Mary Kay Mc Coy)
Moira McMillan	....	assistant legal affairs
Nacho Melero	....	shooting
Manuel Monzón Fueyo	....	development executive (as Manuel Monzón)
Roser Morte	....	production assistant
Antonia Nava	....	head of worldwide sales
Alejandra Navarro	....	financial department
Manuel Olguín	....	internet supervisor
Anna Oms	....	documentation
Victor Padró	....	computer department
Deborah Palomo	....	press & promotion department
Maria Parrón	....	head of business & legal affairs
Mario Pascual	....	financial advisor
Benito Pelayo	....	traffic control
Augustín Pitarch	....	general managing consultant
Jordi Punsola	....	production runner
Fernando Purcalla	....	traffic control
Eva Ramos	....	production accountant assistant
Ariane Riera	....	press & promotion department
Bernat Rifé	....	production assistant
María Ríos	....	computer department
Pere Roca	....	development manager
Pau Rocher	....	title designer
Sílvia Rodrigo	....	production runner
Ovidio Rodríguez	....	financial department
Laura Roige	....	title designer
Carlos Rojano	....	marketing and commercial supervisor
Sonia Roldán	....	financial department
Carlos Rosal	....	production runner
Rosa M'Porras Rueda	....	financial department (as Rosa M' Porras Rueda)
Lluís Salgado	....	production runner (as Luis Salgado)
Patricia Sánchez	....	financial department
David Sans	....	technical supervisor
Elena Serra	....	development executive
Elisa Sirvent	....	production secretary
Xavier Soriano	....	communications manager
J. Gonzalo Tamajón	....	second production assistant (as Gonzalo Tamajón)
David Tardà	....	web developer
Marta Tarrida	....	production intern
Lluís Ventós	....	assistant: Mr. Anderson
Immaculada Vera	....	financial department
Enric Verdaguer	....	production accountant assistant
Manel Vicaria	....	head of press & promotion department
Xsepa	....	production runner
Manuel Yebra	....	marketing assistant
Helena Moreno Núñez	....	development executive (uncredited)

Thanks
Olga Arasa	....	thanks
Miren Berrueta	....	thanks
Sibi Blazic	....	special thanks (as Sibi Bale)
James DePaul	....	thanks (as James De Paul)
Chris Donnelly	....	special thanks
Ender	....	special thanks
Víctor Fernández	....	thanks
Pamela Field	....	thanks
Anna Fornells	....	thanks
Susana Gómez	....	thanks: Filmax Madrid
Sheila Jaffe	....	special thanks
Lorena	....	thanks
Lauren Mansfield	....	special thanks
Max McGuire	....	thanks (as Max Mc Guire)
Monique	....	thanks
Ester Pascual	....	thanks
Laura Pino	....	thanks
Begoña Salcedo	....	thanks
John Sloss	....	special thanks
Tom Strickler	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Filmax Group (as Filmax Entertainment) (presents)
• Castelao Producciones (copyright owners)
• Canal+ España (with the participation of)
• Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA) (with the collaboration of) (as ICAA)
• ICF (with the collaboration of)

Distributors

• 3L Filmverleih (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• 3L Filmverleih (2005) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Paramount Classics (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2005) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Toshiba Entertainment (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Filmax International (200?) (USA) (TV)
• Hollywood Entertainment (2006) (Greece) (all media)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Tartan Video (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Argentina) (all media)
• Vendetta Films (2004) (New Zealand) (DVD)
• e-m-s the DVD-Company (2005) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• RHK Efectos Especiales (special makeup effects)
• Efe-X (special makeup effects)
• Filmtel S.A. (digital effects)

Other Companies

• 103 Todd-AO Estudios  dubbing: Madrid
• Agencia Marta Flores  extras and stand-ins (as Martha Flores S.L.)
• Ajuntament De Badalona  thanks
• Ajuntament De Sant Adriá del Besós  thanks
• Andrés Sardá  thanks
• Armand Basi  thanks
• Botas Sendras  thanks
• Calvin Klein  thanks (as Calvin Klein)
• Catering Di Vino  catering
• Ciberjeans  thanks
• Cine Grip  grip equipment
• Cinevent  insurance
• Creation Effects  set construction
• Cámara Grip Internacional  dolly grip
• Cámara Rent Internacional S.A.  grip equipment (as Cámara Rent)
• Daniel Jabal Sound Service  walkies (as Daniel Jabal S.L.)
• Deliverance Pictures  making of
• Eduardo Ponsa Güell  set construction
• El Camaleón Sonido  sound equipment
• El Camaleón Sonido  sound-design studio (as El Camaleon Sonido)
• Enelmo  generators
• Energie  thanks
• Entidad de Gestión de Derechos de los Productores (EGEDA)  developed with the support of (as EGEDA)
• Etxart and Panno  thanks
• Eurosonic Madrid  original soundtrack (as Eurosonic)
• Fernando Román  shooting cars
• Filmtel S.A.  digital intermediate
• Filmtel  post-production
• Fruit of the Loom  thanks
• Gestvi-Central  production cars
• Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO)  developed with the support of (as ICO)
• Juniper Post  
• Kodak  negative
• Korynam  specialists
• La Perla  thanks
• LaCoste  thanks (as Lacoste)
• Lejaby  thanks
• Levi Strauss & Co.  thanks (as Levi's Straus)
• MJJ Realización Decorados Cine y TV  set construction
• Mercaoca  caravans
• Miss Sixty  thanks
• Modasa  production transport
• N. Cons  set construction
• POP Sound  dubbing: Los Angeles
• Panacámara Rent  camera
• Panama Jack  thanks
• Policia Local De Badalona  thanks
• Policia Local De Sant Adriá del Besós  thanks
• Poly-Klyn  portable toilets
• Postworks New York  post-production studio: New York (as Postworks LLC)
• Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, The  score performed by (as Prague Philharmonic Orchestra)
• Programme MEDIA de la Communauté Européenne  developed with the support of
• Ray-Ban  thanks
• SMP  messenger services
• Sadilsa  electric equipment
• Smécky Studios  score recording
• Solido Jeans  thanks
• Sound One Corporation  dubbing: New York
• Soundtrack  mix studio
• Tato Art Effect Co., The  set construction
• Taxi Internacional  actor's chauffeurs
• Todd-AO Studios  dubbing: Los Angeles
• Unicorn Ficticis Esenográfics  set construction
• Venca  thanks
• Viajes Halcón  travel agency
• Volum Juan Pablo Marní  set construction
• Zapatos Victoria  thanks
• Álex Serra I Aragay  legal counsel

Also Known As:

The Machinist (International: English title) (UK) (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and disturbing images, sexuality and language.

Runtime:

101 min | Turkey:94 min (TV version)

Country:

Spain

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

New Zealand:M | Ireland:18 (DVD rating) | Spain:18 | Germany:16 | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18PL | Malaysia:U (cut) | Hungary:18 | South Korea:15 | Philippines:R-18 | Canada:18+ | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Brazil:16 | Finland:K-15 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:18A (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain

Company:

Filmax Group

Trivia:

The time of 1:30 AM is significant throughout the movie. Trevor often notices something out of the ordinary at this time. During the 1 hour 30 minute mark in the movie, the major plot twist is revealed.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Resnik pulls up in his truck outside Miller's house he parks a couple of feet from the kerb, when he returns the truck is tight against the kerb.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Ivan: Who are you?

Movie Connections:

References Se7en (1995)

Soundtrack:

Last Call

A grower

It's a common rule that people subconsciously decide within the first ten minutes whether they like a movie or not. It didn't even take me that long to know that I would be intrigued by "The Machinist".

The set up is perfect. It's adorable how the movie constantly establishes new plot points without ever getting tedious. As the story goes on it gets hard to believe that the ending will be able to explain everything and you start pondering that there can only be one possible conclusion for all the weird events. It may be disappointing at first to learn that your predictions are probably dead-on and you might go: "Not that old twist again." The beautiful thing, however, is that there's an explanation to the twist that really adds a lot to the concept. Much later, when you've already left the theater and you rethink the whole thing, you'll find that the script is much cleverer than you had thought at first. To me the biggest achievement of the movie in retrospective is, that it's never creepy just for the sake of freaking the audience out (and hell, the carnival-sequence is so friggin creepy and well made, it's delightful). Every scene has its purpose and that is not often the case in horror and mystery movies.

Although the whole cast did a fine job, Christian Bale's terrific performance must be mentioned. Usually I'm annoyed by stories about actors losing or gaining weight in preparation for a role, because mostly it's uncalled for anyway and not even worth a mention. What Bale did to prepare for "The Machinist", however, is nothing short of heroic. He lost 60 pounds and looks so unhealthy throughout the whole movie that it's hard to believe he turned into himself again after the director yelled "cut!".

I can recommend "The Machinist" to anybody who's looking for a movie that keeps you intrigued longer than just during its running time. If after 10 minutes you like the movie, after days you'll find yourself still obsessed with it. I love it, when a movie does that to me!