IMDb reviews From IMDb
★ 8 / 10
Tony and Denzel get back on track. Unstoppable
John Chard
Tony and Denzel get back on track. Unstoppable is directed by Tony Scott and written by Mark Bomback. It stars Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson…
Tony and Denzel get back on track.
Unstoppable is directed by Tony Scott and written by Mark Bomback. It stars Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson, Ethan Suplee & Kevin Dunn. Cinematographer is Ben Seresin and the music is scored by Harry Gregson-Williams. Plot finds Washington and Pine as Pennsylvania rail yard workers at the opposite ends of their working careers. Whilst working on their first job together, and not exactly hitting it off, the two men are thrust into a frantic pursuit of a runaway train. The runaway (coaster) is pulling tankers containing highly explosive material, and hurtling along at 70mph it has to be stopped before it hits civilisation.
Almost as if to atone for the misfire that was The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Scott and Washington jump on board another type of train movie and literally let it rip. The film is as simple as its plot synopsis suggests, it's a disaster movie on the railway, but with Scott cranking it up as much as he can, it's as much fun as you can hope to have with a modern day popcorner. Carrying all the trade mark licks of its director; roving camera, scattergun editing and ear splitting sound mix, it's also nice to report that unlike Pelham, the pace never sags. Even as the principal characters hang ups and back stories are unfolded in the narrative, Unstoppable literally doesn't pause for breath. Sure the "Bromance" development is signposted at the first stop, and yes, are we ever in doubt about where this will end up? But if you are going into Unstoppable for wry social commentary or an expose on the political shenanigans involved in today's rail yards? Well you deserve all the disappointment you will undoubtedly get.
A runaway train pursued by Captain Kirk and Malcolm X, directed by the man who brought us Top Gun. Yeah baby, it's a thrill ride for sure. 8/10
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★ 6 / 10
Unstoppable is an intense, high-energy thriller that keeps
RalphRahal
Unstoppable is an intense, high-energy thriller that keeps you on edge from start to finish. The premise is simple but packed with tension, and the…
Unstoppable is an intense, high-energy thriller that keeps you on edge from start to finish. The premise is simple but packed with tension, and the performances by Denzel Washington and Chris Pine elevate the film. Their chemistry makes the stakes feel real, and you genuinely connect with their characters. The movie does a great job of building suspense, and the pacing never lets up, making it an easy and engaging watch.
That being said, the script didn’t fully hold up for me. While I understand the need for character-building moments, some of the dialogue felt excessive and took away from the urgency of the story. The film could have focused more on developing the plot instead of lingering on conversations that didn’t add much. I also had issues with the cinematography, especially the constant swirling camera movements. It felt like an attempt to create a sense of motion and energy, but instead, it became distracting and even frustrating at times.
Despite its flaws, Unstoppable delivers where it counts. The action sequences are well-executed, the intensity is gripping, and the climax is satisfying even if expected. It may not have the strongest script, but the solid performances and non-stop momentum make it an entertaining ride. If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller with strong leads and adrenaline-pumping moments, it’s worth a watch.
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★ 7 / 10
Suspenseful and believable runaway train flick, but lacks the depth of "Runaway Train"
Wuchakk
Released in 2010, "Unstoppable" is about a runaway train in Pennsylvania carrying toxic chemicals and the engineer and conductor who try to stop it (Denzel…
Released in 2010, "Unstoppable" is about a runaway train in Pennsylvania carrying toxic chemicals and the engineer and conductor who try to stop it (Denzel Washington & Chris Pine). Rosario Dawson plays the yardmaster that assists from headquarters while Jessy Schram plays the separated wife of the newbie conductor.
The movie's based on the real-life CSX 8888 Incident, otherwise known as the Crazy Eights Incident, which involved a runaway freight train in northwestern Ohio in 2001. Locomotive #8888 was pulling 47 cars, including some with hazardous chemicals, and ran unmanned for two hours and 66 miles at speeds of up to 51 mph. (***Don't read the rest of this paragraph if you don't want to know how the real-life incident ended before seeing the movie***). Attempts to derail the train using a portable derailer failed, as did an attempt by police to shoot at an emergency fuel cutoff switch, which didn't work because the button has to be pressed for several seconds before the engine shuts down due to lack of fuel. A northbound freight train took succor in a siding area where the crew released its locomotive and waited for the runaway to pass. Like in the movie, they had a crew of two: Jess Knowlton, an engineer with 31 years of service; and Terry L. Forson, a relative neophyte conductor. They proceeded to chase the runaway train and successfully locked on to the rear car of the runaway, then slowing it by applying the dynamic brakes or their locomotive. Once the runaway had slowed to 11 miles per hour, trainmaster Jon Hosfeld ran alongside the train, jumped on, and shut down the engine.
While the movie starts somewhat bland it quickly picks up momentum for a realistic non-stop thrill ride. The realism is refreshing in this day and age of cartoony action blockbusters and their multiple "yeah, right" action scenes (not that there's anything wrong with those movies, as long as you're in the right mode). Washington and Pine make for good protagonists and you start to care about them as the story progresses. Moreover, the movie doesn't overstay its welcome at a mere 98 minutes.
The film was shot in numerous locations extending from central Pennsylvania to eastern Ohio, which serve up a nice rolling hills backdrop with the occasional river. Minor note: You'll observe a woodchuck scamper across the tracks in one scene where he/she thankfully DOESN'T become ground chuck.
BOTTOM LINE: "Unstoppable" is worthwhile as a believable disaster thriller. While it lacks the potent subtext and overall greatness of 1985's "Runaway Train," it makes up for it with its realistic and kinetic tone, not to mention the fact that it's based on a true incident.
GRADE: B
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