Review by Jonathan Falcone
Stars Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson, Ethan Suplee, Kevin Dunn, Kevin Corrigan, Kevin Chapman, Lew Templex, Elizabeth Mathis
Written by Mark Bomback
Certification UK 12A | US PG-13
Runtime 99 minutes
Directed by Tony Scott
A storyline that sets a driverless train (a coaster) through the American wilds of Pennsylvania wreaking havoc as it thrashes through small towns, deserves praise for providing action without depending on break-neck speed.
One morning, as a 39-carriage 777 train is moved from its docking yard, its driver decides to leave the train to switch the track direction by hand. What results is that he neither gets to change the tracking in time, nor is able to then get back on the train, allowing it to run off at increasing speed. Cue veteran conductor Frank Barnes (Washington) and newly appointed rookie Will Colson (Pine) to pursue the train (backwards) in their older 1206 carriage, in an attempt to stop it.
The pace of the trains throughout is exhilarating and filmed with grace. Tony Scott plays out much of the characters' back stories as well as Barnes’ and Colson’s rookie vs. veteran tension to the backdrop of silently whizzing fields and corridors of trees. The backdrop and trains easily steal the show.
The action as well is a good romp with jump-stunts to and from carriages and cars, even if the constant unfolding of dangers around the train (the inevitable u-bend coming up on the line, the toxic cargo) as delivered by train manager Connie Hooper (Dawson) verges on slapstick, though her strategic battle against corporate management as the local expert is a wonderfully satisfactory two fingers to the corporate villain.
Washington is seamless as Barnes, a confident old-timer with a Samaritan's heart who guides the feisty and naive Colson through the perils they face in attempting to get their carriage hooked to the 777 and hit the breaks. Whilst Bomback has put enough in place to ensure the characters can facilitate the spectacle of a runaway train and the performances are spot on, it’s Scott’s ability to frame spark flooded wheels and set Washington running across the top of moving trains that makes this film endlessly watchable.
Unstoppable is an action film the kind of which is nearly gone. It doesn’t jump cut to infinity and its plot allows tension to fluidly build and escalate, making it an incredibly rewarding 90 minutes.