The Machinist

This film was definitely a Physiological Thriller. By this I mean that not only did the clever filming and trickery reel the watcher in and keep them hooked, but because it was totally from the view point of someone who was turning slowly and undoubtedly insane, for once the viewer could not second-guess the plot or have their own feelings and opinions about the goings on, and instead had to completely immerse themselves in the film until you felt like you were the traumatised and dysfunctional leading character.

The first scene acts as the definitive scene, one that the plot comes back to at the end which helps to finally answer all the mystery and dead ends. This was a clever ploy and one that truly set the film out to be memorable and very watchable.  There is no real way of summarising the plot without giving the story away, as on the one hand it can seem like a twisted and complicated story, but on the other hand once you understand all the points of the plot at the end, it seems so obvious and you wonder why you had not foreseen the huge twist in one of the final scenes. However, this is down to my earlier point, that the viewer starts thinking like the leading character who has not slept for over a year, so is clearly not think exactly clearly.

I think that Christian Bale played the character of Trevor Reznik, (a machinist who had been suffering with chronic insomnia for over a year and who was therefore slowly losing touch with reality,) outstandingly, and truly embodied the doomed character. Bale was painfully underweight for this film, making him at times very hard to look at, which is an example of the way the film cleverly used imagery to make the viewer part of the experience. Tense and gruelling scenes from the factory where he worked also added to the harshness of the viewing, and some of these shots were also almost unwatchable.  This shows that this film was a good physiological thriller, as the mixture of terrifying scenes mixed with clips that were disjointed and surreal, (such as clocks ticking backwards or confusing flashbacks,) stripped the viewer of normal and rational thoughts, and you became the troubled Reznik.

I love this kind of film because after watching such a powerful and clever array of images and stories, you feel as if you were part of the film, and the thoughts and emotions you felt won’t leave you for days.

Laura

Il Postino by Laura

I did notreally know what to expect from this film. I wasn’t sure if I was going toenjoy it or not, I do not usually go for dated films but everyone I had spokento about it had only good things to say. It is one of my Mum’s favourite filmsof all time, and after watching it I can definitely see why. Not only was itfull of tantalisingly delightful imagery and sound, it was also full of deepemotion that all viewers could connect with. It was a story that truly moved meand was a complete joy to watch.

  I think that there were many layers to IlPostino; some parts made me think of all that is good in film and the world,other parts were desperately sad and some aspects were simply benignlyordinary. The basic idea of the film is simple: a poor, plain Mediterraneanfisherman’s son called Mario, (played by Massimo Troisi,) wants a more adventurousand rewarding life. He finds solace in the postcards he receives from friendstravelling to begin with, and eventually falls for the magic of poetry thanksto the communist poet Pablo Neruda, who was exiled from Chile due to hisoutspoken beliefs. Pablo Neruda was a real Chillan activist and poet, and soamidst the engaging and visionary film, Neruda’s poems are dotted about,sometimes with amusing consequences.

   Not only is this story about a man wantingto better his life, it is also a love story. Beatrice, the barmaid he instantlyfalls for, is broody and beautiful. The scene showing the lowly postman and thefeisty barmaid’s first encounter is heart warming and funny, although somewhatimprobable.  But that is one thing thatthis film manages to achieve so well; making the improbable seem easilyachievable. I love that Mario managed to win Beatrice’s heart with themetaphors Pablo taught him, and that the unlikely friendship between a humblepostman and a passionate communist poet became so strong, leading to Mariosuddenly seeing the beauty of his surrounding and also the beauty of words, andto Pablo becoming kinder and letting the situation he was put in instead ofhindering him, making him stronger and more loving.

    Of course the film isn’t all smiles andhappy endings, as although the setting and story is not one that many can fullyrelate to, it is still true to the pattern of real life, and I found myselfreally connecting with the characters, which shows it wasn’t totallyunrealistic. I have to admit that at the final scenes of the film I did shed afew tears, and felt like I’d been on a complete journey. Perhaps there wereweak points to this film but I definitely don’t want to be critical of IlPostino just yet. I will definitely be watching this magnificent film again.