Entertainment
The Extreme, R-Rated Thriller That Destroyed Batman's Body
By Robert Scucci
| Published
As somebody who spent years working the graveyard shift, I can tell you first-hand that a questionable sleep schedule eventually catches up with you and forces some serious lifestyle or occupational changes. My sleep problem had a simple fix, like avoiding caffeine in the afternoon and sticking to a rigid nap schedule. I still wear one of those cushy sleep masks so I can experience total darkness during those nights when 12:00 am quickly turns into 3:00 am, and I need to catch a solid REM cycle in a pinch.
Christian Bale’s Trevor Reznik in 2004’s The Machinist, on the other hand, is well past the point of saving, and there’s no way a cozy cup of Sleepytime Tea is ever bringing him back. Bale looks the part of a tormented man whose demons have consumed him from the inside out in The Machinist, famously losing 62 pounds on a crash diet of water, apples, black coffee, and sometimes whiskey. Appearance aside, his portrayal of an insomniac slowly losing his grip on reality is one of the best I’ve ever seen, and The Machinist still holds up as a perfect psychological thriller over 20 years later.
We’re Gonna Need Something Stronger Than Camomile
The Machinist wastes no time establishing its conflict through Trevor Reznik, who has barely slept in a year and toils away at the machine shop where he works. It’s immediately clear he’s not all there, his wandering mind leading to a brutal workplace accident that costs one of his coworkers an arm. In his near-constant delirium, he has frequent run-ins with a coworker named Ivan (John Sharian), who nobody else can confirm exists. This becomes a serious problem because Trevor insists Ivan distracted him, causing the accident.
Outside of work, Trevor lives in squalor and moves through life in a daze. To distract himself from his own internal machinations, he spends time with a prostitute named Stevie (Jennifer Jason Leigh), and frequents a nearby airport diner, where he exchanges pleasantries with a waitress named Maria (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon), for whom he seems at least romantically interested. As Trevor gets to know Maria better, he’s introduced to her son, Nicholas (Matthew Romero), whose presence triggers disturbing visions of his past.
As Trevor’s mental state continues to decline, he grows increasingly paranoid and distracted. His constant state of mental flux eventually costs him his machinist job, sending him further into his spiral. Fully convinced that Ivan, Stevie, and Maria are conspiring against him, Trevor sets out to discover who’s pulling the strings, and who’s been leaving the Post-It note on his refrigerator with an incomplete game of hangman scratched onto it.
Worth Its Weight In Christian Bales
By now well known for his willingness to undergo extreme physical transformations, Christian Bale goes all in with his portrayal of Trevor in The Machinist. He reportedly dropped to 120 pounds during production, then had to gain roughly 100 pounds in about six months to prepare for his portrayal of Batman in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, which kicked off in 2005.
Insane physicality aside, Bale is fully dialed in as a man who has completely lost himself to the silent grief eating away at him, his repressed memories resurfacing as his mental faculties hit a dire low point he may never recover from. The stress seen in his face in every single scene is palpable because he’s living it. I’d imagine that smelling the craft service on the production lot during principal photography helped fuel the illusion more than we’ll ever realize.
Experiencing everything from Trevor’s fractured perspective, we catch a glimpse of a world that’s pale and tinted green, as if the decay he feels at his core is projected onto his surroundings. It’s a grim depiction of what can happen when you live in a constantly heightened, sleep deprived state, clocking every single interaction as one loaded with ulterior motives, as if everybody is trying to expose you for committing some heinous act in the past that you only vaguely recall.
The next time you find yourself tossing, turning, and worrying about how much tomorrow is going to suck if you can’t get a few unbroken hours of sleep before dawn approaches, just throw on The Machinist for a dose of perspective. You’ll be glad that the car backfiring outside your bedroom window, waking you briefly before you drift back to slumberland, is the worst of your problems after spending time with Trevor.
As of this writing, The Machinist is streaming on Paramount+.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 1, 2026
Today’s Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you believe in coincidences.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
A coincidence.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter F.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
FLUKE
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
Entertainment
How to watch Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the 2026 T20 World Cup online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2026 T20 World Cup action this weekend is absolutely electric. A lot of fans will be tuning into the huge clash between India and West Indies later today, but for an exciting warm up, Zimbabwe face off against South Africa.
Zimbabwe did well to make this stage of the competition, but they’ve lost both their games in the second group stage. South Africa have looked formidable, and will want to continue their run of wins before the semi finals. Expect an action-packed contest between two talented sides.
If you want to watch Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Zimbabwe vs. South Africa?
Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the 2026 T20 World Cup starts at 4:30 a.m. ET on March 1. This game takes place at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium.
How to watch Zimbabwe vs. South Africa for free
Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.
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This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream the T20 Cricket World Cup for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access
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Visit ICC.TV
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Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free from anywhere in the world
$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you’ll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ICC.TV, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
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Fast connection speeds
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.
Entertainment
Hurdle hints and answers for March 1, 2026
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it’ll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today’s Hurdle, don’t worry! We have you covered.
Hurdle Word 1 hint
Mixed metals.
Hurdle Word 1 answer
ALLOY
Hurdle Word 2 hint
A popular board game.
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Hurdle Word 2 Answer
CHESS
Hurdle Word 3 hint
The edge of the beach.
Hurdle Word 3 answer
COAST
Hurdle Word 4 hint
Milk-based.
Hurdle Word 4 answer
DAIRY
Final Hurdle hint
A Spanish character.
Hurdle Word 5 answer
TILDE
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
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