Movie Review - Unstoppable

Back in 1994, there was an action movie about a bus held hostage, and was unable to stop without explosion. The movie I’m talking about is Speed, and not since then have I been on the edge of my seat for so long and so tired after my movie going experience. Unstoppable will grab you from the very beginning and won’t let go to the very end.

Unstoppable is a movie based on true events that stars Denzel Washinton (Training Day) and Chris Pine (Star Trek) as two train workers who, along with train boss Rosario Dawson must stop a runaway train that is unmanned, and heading right for a residential neighborhood before is over turns, killing hundreds.

The movie is an excellent action movie because it increases the tension at a steady rate throughout the movie, building on the basic premise of a runaway train, until the stakes are incredibly high, and the characters are at their peak, working to stop a train before it’s too late. By the time you get to the ending, the tension will leave you gripping your seat, or your girlfriend, and not letting go to the credits. Some of the events seemed over the top, not that they jumped a bus over a freeway or anything, but the events I scoffed at were ones that actually happened, and by the end it had you believing peril could come to anyone.

I really enjoyed the characters in the movie because of the authenticity presented. These characters didn’t seem like 2D characters, with one being a hero and the other being a young guy wanting to be a hero. Washinton’s Frank is an experienced train driver who is tough, but a nice guy, despite having some family issues. While Denzel is Denzel in this movie, it doesn’t come across as the over-bearing hero, more like a genuine railroad worker. Chris Pine, who became famous for his role as Captain Kirk is the even more flawed individual who has family issues, and is reluctant to be a hero. He screws up, and starts off as kind of a jerk, but is a truly genuine character just trying to put his life back together.

I also found the interpretation of the events interesting. The company in charge of the trains was portrayed as greedy and simply interested in what would be of the most profit to them without considering peoples lives. The most interesting interpretation, however, was the media and their flair for drama. At several points throughout the movie, we see news feeds of events depicted in the movie and the events are incredibly dramatized, and presented in an almost silly manner, adding a near comedic tone to the film.

The cinematography is very Tony Scott, with frantic camera movements nicely paced to increase the action when needed, and some of the shots were incredible as the two trains met in an attempt to stop the runaway train. The trains looked incredible and any train enthusiast will have a great time just with the scenery.

Even though I was hesitant when the movie started with the words “based on true events,” the genuine characters, the insane amount of tension, and the great action made this movie a must see film that kept me on the edge of my seat through the credits, and left me exhausted by the end. I recommend this to anyone.

EDITORS NOTE: This also appeared on Creative Loafing's site HERE