By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
JOEL EDGERTON SHINES IN THE POIGNANT "TRAIN DREAMS"
The new drama
"Train Dreams" from director/screenwriter
Clint Bentley ("Jockey") and
Greg Kwedar ("Sing Sing") had a limited theatrical release on Nov. 7 and makes its streaming debut
Nov. 21 on Netflix.
Adapted from
Denis Johnson's 2011 novella of the same name, the film is a mesmerizing tale of love, loss, and resilience. I hope it finds the audience it deserves because "Train Dreams" is an outstanding movie worthy of awards consideration.
From the start, we are immediately drawn to Robert Grainier (a superb Joel Edgerton, "The Plague"), first as a young boy, alone on a train at six or seven years old, grappling with the absence of his parents as he heads to Idaho to live with a new family.
His journey to adulthood is both riveting and heartbreaking. As he grows, Robert tries desperately to find work, often facing rejection, before landing grueling, dangerous labor as a logger in Washington State.
His life gains unexpected warmth when he meets a young woman at a church named Gladys (Felicity Jones, "The Brutalist"). Love soon blossoms between them along with their efforts to build a family.
The filmmakers and narrator Will Patton (TV's "Unspeakable: The Murder of Jon Benet Ramsey") make us feel every triumph and setback along Robert's path particularly his grueling hours of building a wooden bridge in Washington State.
One of the film's most heart-wrenching sequences is a fire that destroys the house that Robert painstakingly built and claimed to be the heart of his family. These setbacks underscore the fragility of the life he's worked so hard to construct.
Edgerton's performance is self-assured, magnetic, and filled with vulnerability. William H. Macy is also commanding providing a strong supporting role as Arn Peeples, an explosives expert who delivers sage advice to Robert and his fellow loggers before he meets a cruel fate. There is also a forestry services worker named Claire Thompson (a delightful Kerry Condon, "F1The Movie") that Robert meets, and perhaps under different circumstances, they would enjoy each other's company.
What makes "Train Dreams" work so well is its ability to simultaneously feel both epic and intimate. The film carries the timeless impact of a story that seems like it could be based on true events, even though it is entirely fictional.
The cinematography captures the sweeping landscapes, the harshness of the wilderness, and the intimate details of family and community with equal care, creating a world that is immersive and unforgettable.
Edgerton's Robert Grainier is a character whose journey--from lonely childhood to devoted husband and father--is profoundly moving. For audiences seeking an emotionally rich film, "Train Dreams" stands out as one of this year's most compelling dramas.
"Train Dreams" debuts on Netflix Nov. 21.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Go Ahead And Watch This Trailer For
"TRAIN DREAMS"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
