The latest directorial effort by Tony Scott comes in the form of the runaway train movie, titled Unstoppable. This name not only applies to the high speed train run-amok, carrying highly flammable materials, but the two railroad workers trying to stop it. Denzel Washington (Book of Eli) and Chris Pine (Star Trek) share the spotlight, playing two train conductors who are short on time to make sure the explosives-filled train doesn't derail and decimate whatever city it arrives at. Those of you who have seen the trailer probably believe this is an action movie. That assumption, for the most part, is incorrect. Here, Tony Scott trades explosions and bullets for a more character driven experience. The movie gets us to care about the two men trying to stop the train, using the "catching up the train moments" to give Washington and Pine time to really get to know each other. This blends well with the action, splitting the movie into parts where something explodes and the aftermath, giving the characters time to express how they feel about the what's going on, their jobs, and their families. The film does employ some cliche characters, such as the corporate figures who are too worried about money, and not about the lives of the public. It'd be nice to see the opposite happen, maybe where the head of a company ends up saving the day. Then again, that would probably be highly improbable. The two leads do well together, playing off each other with comedic moments, despite their dire situation. It's as if these are two men shooting the breeze at work, and also having to stop a train with explosive cargo on it.
Unstoppable also marks the first time in recent memory (for me anyways), that director Tony Scott has actually restrained from his high frequency quick cuts and flashy cinematography. Don't get me wrong, the movie still has the vibe of a Scott film, but the "less is more" motto seems to work perfectly with the tone of the film. The film is pretty well paced, giving adequate time for each situation to play out, and each reaction to follow. Not a lot happens within the first 30 minutes of 98 minute running time. After the train lets loose, the suspense builds on each attempt to stop it, and each accident it causes. The last 30 minutes of the movie are the result of that built up suspense, giving audiences a white knuckle experience. The technical achievements are impressive, mainly because this is a movie about trains and how they operate on the tracks. There was a limited amount of CG, if any, which was great because it gave the film that realism of a train on the lose. It would be interesting to see how they achieved some of the footage they shot. Also, I felt like I actually learned something about the workers who run train yards and operate trains. It gave an interesting look into what goes on, and how much these trains need to get going.
Being base off true life events, Unstoppable gives a realistic look into what happened and how people react to the situation. Anyone looking for a straight-up action movie will be disappointed, but since the characters are well-developed, this action drama works well with the storyline. This is one train you'll want to catch.
4 out of 5 Stars
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