Double Feature

January 2008 - Thinking about shedding a few pounds in the New Year? Who isn't? But first, check out these two movies so you know how not to go about it.

Before bulking up for Batman, Christian Bale dropped more than 60 pounds for his role in The Machinist. Jennifer Jason Leigh co-stars in this 2004 drama, also known by its Spanish title, El Maquinista.

Bale plays Trevor Reznik, an emaciated man working as a machinist at a factory somewhere. He used to play cards with the guys, but these days he spends his time hanging out with a hooker (Leigh) and leaving outrageous tips for a waitress at the local coffee shop. At home, he's constantly leaving notes for himself to do things like pay the electric bill. Maybe he needs the notes because he hasn't slept in a year.

Things really start to fall apart when a Post-It with a game of hangman on it appears on his refrigerator. About that same time, Trevor starts seeing a biker dude named Ivan everywhere he goes.

Overall Review: Liked it. To say more about this intriguing film would be to say too much. For most of the film, the viewer is as confused as Trevor, but things become clear in the end. As mentioned previously, Bale lost more than 60 pounds for this role. The result is so dramatic that it's almost too difficult to watch.

It's also difficult to watch a gaunt Ben Stiller spiral into heroin addiction in Permanent Midnight. This 1998 movie is based on the autobiographical book from Hollywood scriptwriter Jerry Stahl. Maria Bello, Owen Wilson and Elizabeth Hurley also star. Cheryl Ladd has a small role, and Stahl himself appears as a doctor at a methadone clinic.

I missed the first few minutes of this movie, but I gather that it begins with Stahl (Stiller) preparing to head back to Hollywood after a stint in rehab. Before going, he shacks up in a motel with Kitty (Bello) and tells her his story.

In flashbacks, we see how Stahl married a British producer-type named Sandra (Hurley) to help her stay in the country. He hangs out with Nicky (Wilson) and takes drugs. Soon, Jerry is hooked on heroin and writing for a sitcom that looks an awful lot like ALF.

As Jerry gets deeper into his addiction, his Hollywood career dries up, Sandra kicks him out, and even his dealers don't want to deal with him. Jerry misses his daughter's birth because he's shooting up in a hospital bathroom. He hits rock bottom when he shoots up with the baby in the car then gets pulled over by the police.

Overall review: Liked it. I found it somewhat difficult to buy Ben Stiller in the lead role, mostly, I suppose, because I'm used to seeing him in comedies. In Permanent Midnight, he barely cracks a smile. But, I think that the feeling of uneasiness about Stiller somehow heightens the overall disturbing nature of the film.

Both The Machinist and Permanent Midnight are rated R.