DIRECTOR - Tony Scott
PREVIOUS FILMS - Top Gun / Crimson Tide / Man On Fire / Deja Vu / The Taking Of Pelham 123
STARING - Denzil Washington / Chris Pine / Rosario Dawson / Kevin Dunn
A series of unfortunate events causes a half-mile long, unmanned frait train to begin a destructive journey into highly populated towns and cities. The stakes are increased when it becomes apparrent that half the frait it is pulling contains explosive and hazardous chemicals and is increasing in speed. Frank {Washington) and Will (Pine) two railroad drivers, both at different points in their careers, must now prevent the run-away train from detrailing into a populated area and causing the worst train accident in American history.
Scott returns on top form with his usual partner in crime Denzil Washington, in this exciting take on just how bad things can go when human error, bad luck and six hundred tonnes of explosive frait train collide. Washington puts in a more subtle, but all together strong performance as the unflappable and experinced train driver Frank. His fith collaberation with Scott, Washington continues to play a calm and in-control character that has made him the guy to call back each time for Scott. Chris Pine continues to make big strides from his break through role in 'Star Trek' (2009). Here he playing a rookie train driver who must live up to the older drivers expectations and earn there respect. Rosario Dawson gives a solid performce as the chief train dispatcher who must co-ordinate the operation to prevent the train from causing more damage, whilest Kevin Dunn takes time out from 'Transformers' to play the unlikable but convincing corporate descision maker.
A Tony Scott classic. Viewers can expect the usualy filming techniques that have become trade mark Tony Scott in his films. Shakey camera movements, moving into long high sweeping shots of large scale scenes and slow to fast frames of play are continuous through out the film. The film is a nice take on the uncovered ground that an average joe can save the day by simply doing his job, rather than calling upon unknow skill sets and experiences that generaly encompass heroic charcters in films these days.The film does very well to entertain the audience by expanding on what from the outset must have seen as nothing but a run away train moving down a track for most of the film. Scott throws in alot of detail and events to make it as enthralling as it is, with helicopters, men on wires, exploding trains, obliterating vehicles and cars flipping over to make it a thrilling train chase film. Scott does however drawn upon the tried and tested character personas that have been seen in a lot of hollywood films. The key charcters both encompass damged family lives that are slowly resolved through out the film due to there actions. whilest the corporate 'bad-guy' is portrayed heavly, thinking of costs to the company and acting on them, rather than what is moraly best for people and what common sense dictates.
Overall, an excellent new addiciton to Tony Scotts film portfolio. A grounded and believeable story line which does not take its finger off the pulse and will leave audience very entertained. Best not viewed with small children present due to the frequent tendacey for views to put there hands on their heads and yell 'HOLY --IT!'
* * * * *
By Sam Pickard
29/11/2010
