"Train Dreams" is the biggest movie coming to Netflix this week, and with good reason. The period piece drama initially debuted at Sundance this past January to rave reviews, and shortly after, the streaming service bought the rights. Since then, this film has kept up the momentum, earning several award wins, and "Train Dreams" is considered a serious candidate to get a Best Picture nomination at next year's Oscars. It currently has a 95% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, which is impressive.
I was lucky enough to attend a theatrical screening for "Train Dreams" back in October, and I have to say, it largely lives up to the hype. I have some quibbles with it (more on that later), but there's no denying that this is a deeply moving portrait of a man that time forgot, and it's visually stunning as well.
Adapted from the beloved 2011 novella of the same name by Denis Johnson, "Train Dreams" is set in the remote forests of Montana and the Pacific Northwest. It tells the story of Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a woodsman who works as a logger and railroad worker at the turn of the 20th century. His life revolves around two things: his work and his family.
Unfortunately, Robert's work takes him away from his wife, Gladys (Felicity Jones), and their daughter, Kate. It's one of the two struggles tearing at Robert from the inside throughout the movie, but it's also the deeply moving core of the film.
‘Train Dreams’ is good, but I wish it pushed the envelope just a bit further
Possible spoilers for "Train Dreams" ahead
Let me start by praising "Train Dreams" before I proceed to nitpick. This movie is, first and foremost, an incredible portrait of a man. Edgerton is excellent as Robert, and he's not the only performance to watch in this artfully crafted period piece. William H. Macy's portrayal of logger Arn Peeples, who is a charming if not sometimes cantankerous explosives expert, is particularly enjoyable to watch.
Arn is also funny, which is perhaps the most surprising thing about "Train Dreams." Yes, it's a deeply moving drama with darkness in its heart, but there are more than a few occasions where you'll find yourself laughing. That said, there are also more than a few occasions where this movie will have you feeling depressed, stunned and possibly angry. It also might get you to shed a tear, especially if you're a parent.
That said, I wish the movie, for all its emotional depth, had explored its main character a bit deeper. In particular, I think the movie fails at times fails to convey why this man's portrait is worth exploring. Yes, it's also serving as a period piece, giving us insight into the end of one era in American history and the rise of the other. But this movie isn't "Forrest Gump." We're not just living through a series of changes through the eyes of Robert; we're very much focused on his specific existence and experiences. He's more than merely an avatar for the audience.
Because he's more than just a stand-in for the audience, you wish certain moments were explored more deeply. The main thread throughout the movie is Robert being haunted by his past, but outside of one outburst, he largely grins and bears it.
OK, he doesn't grin; I think Robert maybe smiles once the entire movie. But at the end of the movie, it's clear he's achieved some sort of inner peace — because the movie's narrator (voiced by Will Patton) tells you. In terms of what the movie itself gives you outside of that narration, I found the film ultimately offers up more questions than it answers.
Still, despite these qualms, "Train Dreams" is undeniably a must-watch. Seeing it in the theater, it's a visual masterpiece, and I think that will still translate to your big-screen TV at home. Regardless of what device you watch it on, it'll manage to move you. You won't be able to look away, and you'll understand why this movie has now has Best Picture dreams, even if, like me, you ultimately leave just a bit unsatisfied.
Stream "Train Dreams" on Netflix now
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