8. Christian Bale - The Machinist
There is method acting or getting into character, and then there is risking your life to evoke a sickening, harrowing feeling with an audience. Christian Bale's character Trevor Reznik is one of the most memorable film performances for decidedly shocking and incorrect reasons. The film itself is fantastic, a dark portrayal of a man losing his mind due to insomnia is worthy of any film lovers collection. But the staggering look of Bale can, for some, make it almost unwatchable. Bale went all the way down to 110 pounds (7 stone) for the role, supposedly living off a cup of black coffee, a can of tuna and an apple as his daily diet. The producers stepped in after Bale stated he wanted to lose more and reach 100 pounds, yet fearing for his health, they simply told him that it wasn't a good idea. Bale also took up smoking to curb his appetite, all equalling a very bad advert for healthy living, yet the results are a skeletal Bale who acts out of his saggy skin to make the role so believable. The film itself obtained critical acclaim, yet the dramatic weight loss shuns any spotlight on how good the film and its story actually are. Still, when a 30 year old man weights the same as an average 8 year old girl, it really is hard to look anywhere else.