Unstoppable (Review)

One of the year’s most perfect marriages of material and director, Unstoppable finds Tony Scott right in his element. Most of his films are put together with the grace and subtlety of a runaway train, so it’s only natural that he finally has made a film which depicts just that. The result is a self-contained thrill ride that works at just about every point along the way. It’s going to hurt to type this, but it’s true: You’ll be glued to your seat.

After a fairly ludicrous pronouncement that this is inspired by true events (while there was a loose train in Ohio back in 2001, it wasn’t quite as bang-bang vroom-vroom as here), we are introduced to Frank Barnes (Denzel Washington, making it seem all too easy as usual) and Will Colson (Chris Pine). Surprise, surprise: they both have family issues that are thinly drawn, so that there may be some “Tell her I love her” drama later on. Frank and Will are paired to work on the railroad all the livelong day, where they develop a kinship despite some tension related to age and nepotism and whatnot.

Meanwhile, a portly hostler (Ethan Suplee) tries to move a train, but he botches the execution and the train’s death rampage across the Pennsylvania countryside begins. Several attempts are made to stop it, only to fail each time. It’s now up to our dynamic duo of Frank and Will to run down the train and stop it the old fashioned way.

What I found refreshing about Unstoppable is the fact that it’s a relatively stripped-down thriller. There is just one explosion, and no one ever holds a gun. The only antagonist is the boss Oscar Galvin, played by Kevin Dunn, who is only concerned with the loss of money and blah blah blah. Ultimately, it’s a minor project, but once it gets going it never stops.

Scott avoids falling into his usual traps because for once his constant need for camera motion and hyperactivity is finally merited. In any scene without motion, Scott always seems uncomfortable, and this comes to light in films of his such as The Taking of Pelham 123, last year’s Tony Scott/Denzel Washington train movie. Unstoppable finds Scott more disciplined, and as a result he has made one if his best films in years.

Despite the constant tension, Unstoppable has an unmistakable humanity to it. The audience cares about the action taking place because the effects it would have on the community are made clear without being overbearing. Despite the absurdity of some of the developments, the film never completely loses verisimilitude. There is a state of chaos at all times, helicopters encircle the train as they now doubt would in real life, sending video back to their respective news stations. People sit around their televisions watching in anticipation. In most films these “watch party” atmospheres don’t succeed because they feel contrived, but for one reason or another in Unstoppable they seem relatively ingenious. The action affects the entire community, and they can only watch as these two insane men risk their lives to bring the Death Train to a stop.

It's never groundbreaking and often clichéd, but I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute of Unstoppable. It is utterly engrossing from start to finish, and even if you have to go to the bathroom you can darn well hold it, because Unstoppable never stops to catch its breath. It’s a 100-minute thrill ride with some genuine human drama. Sure, the title is atrocious, and the music playing over the end credits comes out of a different movie, but while the film is going all that goes out the window. The film is structured like a roller coaster is built: the viewer is presented with a scenario that means sure death (the drop), only to pull up at the last second. When it’s over, the exhale is heavy.

Rating:  (out of 4)