Trains, to me, are generally boring mechanical behemoths. And cargo trains are even more boring. And of course there are a few exceptions and the train in Unstoppable is no exception.
The story set up here is incredibly simple. Based loosely on true events, an unmanned, half a mile long freight train thunders through the countryside. And it’s final destination? Bit city USA! That’s not bad enough except for the fact that it’s carrying a few cars worth of highly, deadly, toxic stuff that will blow the place sky high…or something. The train has to be stopped or else! Enter Frank and Will (Denzel Washington and Chris Star Trek Pine) who decide to “run the bitch down”.
Directed by Tony Scott (Top Gun, True Romance etc.) Unstoppable is an on the rails (sorry) action thriller. The set pieces which are far and few between are impressive as the train ploughs through cars and what not. And the train is the most menacing train I have ever seen. Whatever way Scott has decided to shoot this, has brought a mechanical beast to life. It’s quite uncanny to tell you the truth. At times the train looks like it even has this bad ass face with a scowl. I know it might sound nuts, but the train is a major character in this movie too. As for the rest of the cast? Well nobody is breaking a sweat in Unstoppable. That’s not to say their performance is bad or anything, but for a movie of this ilk it’s more than adequate.
Unstoppable as a movie plays a sleight of hand on the audience. Whilst watching the movie, it’s a very gripping (almost from the get go) and tense movie and it moves along quite quickly. When it’s over though, and you think back about what has just unfolded in front of you, it’s not as gripping and tense as you originally thought. That’s not an entirely bad thing I guess and it does go to show how Scott and co suck you in!
Overall, Unstoppable is an entertaining action thriller with half decent performances from it’s cast and it will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat until the credits roll!
