“Epic” is an overused word in modern parlance, but it’s a fitting descriptor of Joel Edgerton’s lead performance in writer/director Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams. Without any complex melodrama or massive set pieces, the film tells the simple story about a man living in the Pacific Northwest through the early 20th century, but Edgerton’s work is special, as it’s powerful to see how the protagonist’s hard life changes him/takes a toll over several decades. By the end of the movie, the Australian actor wears some incredible makeup that transforms him well beyond his natural 51 years of age – but in addition to his appearance, one also has to greatly appreciate the actor’s efforts to portray a very specific physicality.
Late last year (prior to it being available for Netflix subscribers), I had the chance to sit down with Joel Edgerton during the Los Angeles press day for Train Dreams, and I made a point of specifically asking him about aging his character over the course of the film. I joked about him one day looking back at playing Robert Grainier and assessing that he looks far better as an old man than his character, but I also asked about the impact of his makeup and his approach. He noted that he greatly relates to his part in the movie, and he made a special effort when it came to understanding how Robert would both look and move in his final years. Said Edgerton,
