So, this movie was the fourth of the two weeks of Unlimited showings at Cineworld. And I’d had a bit of a mentally draining day, so I did hesitate over going ahead and seeing this. But in the end, I’m glad that I did watch themovie.
The idea of a comedian who’s famous because he tears his shirt off and yells, “I’m the Machine!” is one that just seems absolutely ridiculous on paper. Of course, the whole movie makes it clear that the whole thing became a viral sensation – which did make a certain kind of sense.
One of the good things about this movie was seeing the impact of Bert’s (aka the Machine) actions on the rest of his family. Even though he was going to therapy and trying to a certain extent, it seemed clear – at least to me – that he hadn’t taken full responsibility for his actions. While there were some hints about exactly what had gone on, it wasn’t until much later in the movie that it was revealed exactly what had happened with his oldest daughter and that he finally took responsibility for what his own actions had caused.
There were quite a lot of moments of humour in this movie and it definitely didn’t take itself too seriously. One of my favourite parts of the movie was the use of the flashbacks, and the gradual reveal of what had really happened in Bert’s past. I thought it was particularly interesting to see how the glamour and excitement of going to a new country changed to something much darker and more sinister. By the end of the movie, I felt like I had a much better understanding of Bert’s character and motivations.
I also really liked Irina, even though I really didn’t expect to when she first appeared. I enjoyed the bonding experiences she shared with Bert…and although it was a bit disappointing to see her bonding with Albert glossed over (while Bert was unconscious), I still thought she was a really great character, with motives that gave her more depth…unlike her brothers, both of whom just seemed like carbon copies of each other.
All told, I really did enjoy this movie. It was a lot of fun and didn’t require a lot of thought to watch. I don’t think it’s a movie I’d get anything out of watching a second time, but it was definitely entertaining and worth watching a first time, in my opinion.
Ink of Blood 