Tony Scott’s runaway train thriller deserves to pick up its share of punters. Scott and his long-term collaborator Denzel Washington have found themselves a (mostly) shrewd script that reworks a real incident from 2001 and makes it relevant to an America still reeling from economic meltdown and the BP oil spill.
Frank (Washington) is the washed-up conductor of train 1206, forced to show the ropes to a well-connected rookie, Will (Chris Pine), whose very inexperience makes him desirable to the bosses — he comes cheap. The pair are soon sniping and the toxic atmosphere is entirely credible. It’s obvious Will doesn’t even want this job, which adds to Frank’s bitterness. As in Jason Reitman’s Up in the Air, we’re aware of two things: that most jobs are understimulating and stressful, and that most people will do anything to stay in work.
As train 777 starts wreaking havoc in Pennsylvania, Frank and Will discover common ground. That’s par for the course. So is the energy generated by Scott — he orchestrates enjoyable (non-CGI) moves that have more to do with Hollywood than heroism.
It’s Washington’s Everyman who keeps the film honest. When tragedy hits a colleague, Frank is stopped in his tracks. The film has a happy ending to catch, but the sense of waste lingers.
Unstoppable
Cert: 12A
