Train Dreams – Movie Review
First Reaction – Train Dreams is a moving journey through the changes in life.
Director: Clint Bentley
Writer: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar (Screenplay)
Writer: Denis Johnson (Novella)
Cast
- Joel Edgerton (The Gift)
- Felicity Jones (The Brutalist)
- William H Macy (Running Man)
- Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin)
Plot: Train Dreams is the moving portrait of Robert Grainier, a logger and railroad worker who leads a life of unexpected depth and beauty in the rapidly-changing America of the early 20th Century.
Runtime: 1 Hour 42 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Train Dreams starts as Robert Grainier (Edgerton) tries to make a life in the open American land. He works as a logger and railroad worker. Elsewhere, he marries Gladys (Jones) to begin a family.
Robert wants to find work closer to home and believes his next job could give his family a chance at that life. However, tragedy strikes and Robert is left alone in the world waiting to learn what might have happened to the life he dreamed of.
Verdict on Train Dreams
Recap
The movie follows a logger and railroad worker trying to have a life in a growing America. However, his life takes an unexpected turn and he spends his time wandering around waiting to find answers.
Best Parts
The movie uses the American dream to highlight the struggles people went through to create the America we know today. It has an emotional core as one man is left questioning everything he worked for. The performances are wonderful and carry the story forward, despite its bleak nature. If we find the biggest highlight, it comes from showing a life which changed so quickly and society was difficult to keep up with.
Worst Parts
Sadly, at the end of the day, it is just another story of the American Dream and doesn’t do anything we haven’t seen before.
Final Thoughts –Train Dreams is a moving, emotional journey.
