Really liked this one...the exitement is really good and the casting was good. The tension creeps up a few notches when you take into account it is based on real events :)
Is it possible for Denzel Washington to be in a horrible movie? The man can act. Unstoppable is an excellent thriller. The plot in this film was amazing. The film - no matter how many times I watch it - every time during scenes involving saving attempts to stop the train grabs me in tightly and gets my heart pumping. From start to finish this film is a thrill ride. I enjoyed every minute of it.
I had no idea that working on the railroad could be this exciting. First and foremost, "Unstoppable" stars Denzel Washington. I don't think this guy has ever taken a misstep in a role. In this flick, he's long-time engineer Frank. He's a grizzled veteran of the railroad biz. He has two beautiful daughters but has lost his wife to cancer. On the job, he routinely has all of the answers. The guy just knows his stuff. It's impossible not to like Frank.
Chris Pine's "Will" is just a younger version of Frank, he's just not nearly as track-wise. Then you've got Rosario Dawson as Connie in a working woman role that I've never seen her do before. She is also totally likable. The three of them are portrayed as flawless heroes. They are the good guy, "workin' men" of the movie.
Kevin Dunn plays the bad guy corporate boss named Galvin who plots a couple of failed attempts to stop the runaway train. Galvin actually analyzes what the cost of derailing the train will be to his company and even discusses the effect it will have on stock prices with the CEO. When we see this conversation happening, Galvin is on the phone with the CEO, who just happens to be golfing during the crisis. Okay let's see if I understand...Corporate bosses are only worried about money and are not concerned with the safety of the employees or the people in the towns where the train loaded with toxic chemicals may crash. And, our everyday heroes, Frank, Will, and Connie are only worried about stopping the train and saving lives, their jobs be damned. Got it. But I wonder what happens if the train crashes costs hundreds of millions of dollars to cleanup and drops the company's stock prices to the point where the people that the company employs lose their jobs? You know...people like the heroes in this movie. Oh, who cares about the details! Corporate bosses are evil and everyone knows it. Hollywood constantly tells us so that must be the truth.
Now that I've once again attempted to call out another instance of Hollywood's trashing of big business, it's time to point out that this movie is a lot of fun. It is very fast paced and there are carloads of suspense. It's entirely silly but the action is shot so well. The director pushes almost all of the right buttons and I thought that the quick cutting so prevalent in movies today wasn't distracting here. I almost always understood where the runaway train was in relation to Frank and Will's hot pursuit in their own choo-choo. I don't think their rescue is feasible and it probably will have those who know something about railroads scoffing. To the layman though, it seems like things aren't entirely far-fetched.
One other thing, the "where are they now" segment at the end of this movie was totally unnecessary and really deflated the impact of the ending. It would have been just fine to leave the characters alone. We don't need to know what happened to them after this event in their lives occurred. And did I mention how cool Denzel Washington was?
just rewatched this movie and remembered how much I enjoyed watching it. Its “speed” with a train.
If you're looking for a movie that will make you feel kind of good without anything being overly complicated, this film is for you. I'm trying to think of the last time that I thought this about a movie. Maybe Seabiscuit?
It was a'ight--kept my attention for an hour and a half, and had a few sufficiently tense moments, but it was ultimately anticlimactic.
Gotta agree with Herman. Excellent movie, but just jumping back to the locomotive sounds like it'd been safer and easier. Or if they'd just run from the back all the way to the locomotive.
Good combination of tension and action.
Have to question the tactics used to stop the train though. Am I missing something or wouldn't the easiest solution be to put two people in the train the went in fron of 777. One could then climb back over the engine and stop the train. Gotta be better than trying to swing some dude onto the roof on a rope. Would've made the film a bit short though :-)
Bit of a dumb plot with an off pace imo, but entertaining nonetheless.
Rating: 7.5/10
Posted: 19th april 2023
Unstoppable might not score high on the realism scale, but it certainly delivers when it comes to action. While I expected a bit more depth from a Denzel Washington film, it still offers plenty of entertainment with its action packed train scenes and suspenseful plot. If you're in the mood for a high-octane action movie that doesn't necessarily prioritize realism, this one won't disappoint.
This movie is still as good after almost 13 years as it was then. 90 minutes of nostop action, thrilling to the end. See if you can find one of these today. You'll be looking for a long time.
RIP Tony Scott
The definition of an edge of your seat entertaining action film, following a conductor and engineer at a railroad who become the unsung heroes to stop a runaway train. The emotional roller coaster of a true story has a great plot development, although the set up is a bit quick for character development.
"Just to let you know, we're gonna gonna run this bitch down."
What would normally be a super cheesy movie is actually surprisingly entertaining and I would say that is really due to the actors in this. This should've been the official sequel to Speed! Also, I did not know this was Tony Scott's last movie. Rest in Peace.
An absolute thrill ride.
Denzel Washington (Frank) and Chris Pine (Will) are superb together in this, they bounce off each other perfectly throughout - Washington's delivery is spot on here. Rosario Dawson and Ethan Suplee are also good, Suplee's scenes with T.J. Miller and Lew Temple are amusing.
The premise is gripping, even if a little overdramatic in parts - as you'd expect, really. The backstories for Frank and Will are relatable, which allows you to care for the two main characters. I love how gritty this feels across the board.
Barring a few strange editing habits, it has great cinematography for the majority alongside some excellent tension building - particularly towards to end.
'Unstoppable' is a cracking film!
Unstoppable may be a predictable, unsubtle and cliched variation of Speed, but that doesn't stop it being the most exhilarating thriller of the year. Strap yourselves in for one hell of a ride.
It's just a shame this movie as almost nothing to do with the real live event:
- The number of the runaway train is not 777 but 8888;
- The cities are not the same;
- There is no "Stanton Curve";
- The end is not how it really happened;
- The speed is very exagerated.
But nonetheless it is an awsome movie.
wow..... just wow. I can really enjoy tony scott and mainstream movies. BUT THIS one was not my cup of tea.
Scott just take it to far. more than 40 tracking shots - i just couldn't enjoy this movie. Even i liked the cast.
3/10
Pretty good film; like scholarsarena says it is a stereotypical action flick but it was well made and was more engaging since it was based on true events.
Not many would like it. It's a stereotypical action movie, but I think it was well executed.
Shout by FluffMeVIP OG 12BlockedParentSpoilers2014-06-16T22:17:11Z
Spoiler alert: This train is Stoppable!