Today’s quick review: Unstoppable. When a train engineer gets out of his cab to flip a switch at a train yard, the unmanned train accelerates past him and begins a perilous journey across Pennsylvania. Connie (Rosario Dawson), the manager of the yard, discovers that the train is carrying several tons of explosive chemicals and is set to derail in the populous town of Stanton. Her plan to derail the train in the countryside are overruled by Galvin (Kevin Dunn), her company-minded superior, in favor of a riskier but less expensive plan. But when this fails, it falls to Frank (Denzel Washington), a veteran train engineer, and Will (Chris Pine), a rookie conductor, to risk life and limb to bring the runaway train to a stop.
Unstoppable is a realistic thriller with peculiar construction. The nature of the runaway train is that no incremental progress can be made in stopping it: each attempt is either a success or a failure, and a success would end the movie. With no villain to track down, bomb to find, or puzzle to solve, Unstoppable spends much of its time on more immediate threats than the train derailing in Stanton, such as a train of children heading in the opposite direction, a horse trailer stalled on the tracks, or Frank and Will trying to get their train off the line in time. These incidents keep the adrenaline up between attempts to stop the train, but ultimately their outcomes boil down to luck more than quick thinking or folly. This lack of meaningful agency is mirrored in the appearance of Frank and Will, the nominal heroes of the story, who only get involved late in the film.
In spite of all this, Unstoppable is an entertaining film with good characters and a refreshingly realistic premise. Chris Pine and Denzel Washington are as charming as ever, and Rosario Dawson is cool and competent in the face of a terrible situation and an unjust boss. The chain of events leading to the runaway train is shown in detail, giving the impression of an inside look at how railroads operate. The story is based on a real incident, and the embellishments are all plausible, especially by thriller standards. The film also doesn’t overstay its welcome, clocking in at 98 minutes.
Unstoppable is a fun film notable for its strong cast and realism. Watch it if you’re in the mood for a thriller with a realistic premise, okay execution, and a leading cast of Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, and Rosario Dawson. Skip it if you’re looking for a thriller with more action or a more conventional progression.
6.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for its enjoyable characters and premise, hindered by its abnormal progression.