FILM REVIEW: Unstoppable

Written by Matt

Unstoppable

I was going to start this review with, “Watching Unstoppable was ...”. Then I remember that as I walked out of the theater I caught myself feeling a little giddy, the comedown effects after experiencing or being part of something exhilarating. Instead of being a viewer I had become an unknowing participant.

It is difficult to review this movie because it was goobad(pronounced gubad). The script written by Mark Bomback was very linear and predictable; it felt as though it was built on the foundations of every runaway train script from the past. Ie: A train hurtles towards a town/city carrying a deadly cargo, if it is not stopped the destruction caused will be unfathomable.

Director Tony Scott used perspective and live action news footage to increase the realism of the movie. This worked well for most of the scenes, but the news chopper felt decidedly forced. Helicopter perspective works great chasing cars and people, actually anything with a random path. Not a train. At one point when Chris Pine’s character Will fell between the trains the footage shot from the chopper looked amateurishly fake.

When I know Denzel Washington is in a movie I know that he is right for whatever role he portrays. I absolutely believed he has been working for the railroad for 28 years. There were times throughout the movie where he was phenomenally good at his job, almost displaying abilities bordering the supernatural, and I believed it.

Chris Pine worked well with the more experienced Denzel Washington. Maybe he chanelled his feelings about the movie because I completely believed he did not want to be there. His character was hilariously passive aggressive at times, displaying his unwillingness back down.

Rosario Dawson played her role well because she’s a great actress. But I hesitantly say her portrayal seemed too weak or vulnerable to be in the position of authority or have the knowledge she possessed in the movie. This is in no way a sexist remark since a female was necessary for this role, evident by how much *minor spoiler alert* I like how Frank gets the kiss at the end. From the movies standpoint Rosario Dawson was miscast. This is too bad because I really liked her in ‘Seven Pounds’.

Honourable mention should go to lead welder Ned portrayed by Lew Temple. Like a chameleon he reminded me of more than a few people from my own life.

Much like watching the World Cup drew me in and had me cheering along with every railroad employee in the movie. After being emotionally stimulated by good acting I still felt as though there was something lacking from the movie, something missing. If Superman had swooped in and saved the day it would have been a better movie.

In conclusion if the cast had done another movie together with a fresh story, a better plot it could have been amazing.

I give this movie a B-. The actor’s performance eclipsed the shaky plot. Realizing that I did not watch the movie, I experienced it earned brownie points.

PS. The title is ironic because the train was in fact stopped at the end of the movie. Stoppable with any adjective would have been a clearer description.