Unstoppable

Still hot off the tracks of  The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 comes another Tony Scott train movie featuring Denzel Washington. This time, Washington takes the role of Frank, a 28-year veteran of the railroad industry. Partnered for the first time with a new and young conductor, Will (Chris Pine), Frank goes out on a routine job bringing in a train to the depot. Meanwhile, a shocking show of negligence from engineer Dewey (Ethan Suplee) results in freight train 777 going unmanned onto the main track at full throttle with no air brakes. In addition to being 'as tall as the Chrysler building', the train is also carrying several tanks of highly volatile molten phenol. Combined with the diesel fuel on board, the train makes for a nice town-levelling guided missile headed to heavily-populated Stanton. Other niceties include a train full of schoolchildren out on an excursion and collision course with 777.

Frank and Will do a little male-bonding where we learn that Frank's wife is deceased and he has two college-bound daughters living in Stanton. We also learn of Will's estranged relationship with his wife which has resulted in a restraining order against him. After learning of and avoiding the runaway train, Frank and Will decide to stop it themselves by chasing it down, attaching to it, and braking it in reverse with their own engine.

Despite opposition by train company VP Galvin (Kevin Dunn) who has made two botched attempts to stop and then derail the train, yardmaster Connie (Rosario Dawson) supports Frank and Will's plan. A chase on rails ensues and when they finally catch up, the hard part really begins.

Like the titular freight train, the movie builds up its momentum slowly into an unstoppable juggernaut. The tension builds and becomes more and more urgent as the train nears its final destination. The cinematography conveys a sense of the unyielding nature of the train as it thunders ominously along. Tony Scott certainly knows his trains! The action scenes are very well-crafted and demands the attention of the audience, growing more and more spectacular towards the end. The two leads turn in convincing performances within the confines of the script. The character development is kept to a minimum as to not detract from the main action, but the relationship develops naturally and believably. The supporting characters do their jobs and the train company is painted as a soulless corporation whose CEO considers only cash loss and stock devaluation in making possibly life-threatening decisions before returning to his golf game.

Based on true events (which I'm sure were much less dramatic), this is probably one of the best potential train-wreck movies you'll ever see.