Set in Pennsylvania, AWVR Train #777, a train hauling hazardous chemicals, goes out of control after an oversight but the engineer leaves the cab unoccupied and stuck at full throttle. Now 28 year railroad veteran Frank Barnes (Denzel Washington), untested rookie, Will Colson (Chris Pine), and yardmaster Connie Hooper (Rosario Dawson) must try and stop this out of control train before it crashes with disastrous results.
Released in 2010, the movie is actually based on the CSX 8888 incident (aka Crazy Eights) where a train carrying phenol also went out of control. Various details from the real event are used (such as the police's attempt to shoot the fuel release button) but while some details are kept there's a number of details inserted for dramatic effect. The movie is notable for being the final film of Tony Scott before his suicide and fifth collaboration with Denzel Washington. While Unstoppable isn't Scott's best movie, it is still an entertaining ride from start to finish.
The movie is actually fairly unique in terms of blockbuster action movies in that its setting in the rust belt areas of Pennsylvania and a smaller scale story involving working class people who aren't typical guns blazing devil may care action protagonists makes the film feel fairly grounded for a movie of this type. Tony Scott efficiently and effectively introduces and sets up the scenario, characters, and relationships but doesn't leave anything feeling rushed or under done. When the movie starts, not unlike the train it doesn't stop until it's stopped. The movie views the train from every possible direction, be it the boots on the ground, the managers tracking the rail systems, the regional directors, and even the high level executives who are busy golfing as this goes on. We also get some well utilized viewpoints from the community and local news covering the action from multiple angles.
There's really not all that much in the way of "substance" with unstoppable, bor is there much depth to it either. The movie does try to shine a light on ageism in working environments with Washington's character Barnes having been forced into "Retirement" with half benefits and it makes a good point for Washington and Pine to bounce off each other and they have really good chemistry, but it's not lingered on too long as the movie is more concerned with matching the speed of the runaway train than doing any in depth character analysis.
Unstoppable knows what it is and doesn't try to be anything else. It's an above average disaster movie that gives its audience likable protagonists who rather than relying on choreographed stunts or expensive fantastical gadgets need to rely on their prowess and ingenuity to save the day.
Released in 2010, the movie is actually based on the CSX 8888 incident (aka Crazy Eights) where a train carrying phenol also went out of control. Various details from the real event are used (such as the police's attempt to shoot the fuel release button) but while some details are kept there's a number of details inserted for dramatic effect. The movie is notable for being the final film of Tony Scott before his suicide and fifth collaboration with Denzel Washington. While Unstoppable isn't Scott's best movie, it is still an entertaining ride from start to finish.
The movie is actually fairly unique in terms of blockbuster action movies in that its setting in the rust belt areas of Pennsylvania and a smaller scale story involving working class people who aren't typical guns blazing devil may care action protagonists makes the film feel fairly grounded for a movie of this type. Tony Scott efficiently and effectively introduces and sets up the scenario, characters, and relationships but doesn't leave anything feeling rushed or under done. When the movie starts, not unlike the train it doesn't stop until it's stopped. The movie views the train from every possible direction, be it the boots on the ground, the managers tracking the rail systems, the regional directors, and even the high level executives who are busy golfing as this goes on. We also get some well utilized viewpoints from the community and local news covering the action from multiple angles.
There's really not all that much in the way of "substance" with unstoppable, bor is there much depth to it either. The movie does try to shine a light on ageism in working environments with Washington's character Barnes having been forced into "Retirement" with half benefits and it makes a good point for Washington and Pine to bounce off each other and they have really good chemistry, but it's not lingered on too long as the movie is more concerned with matching the speed of the runaway train than doing any in depth character analysis.
Unstoppable knows what it is and doesn't try to be anything else. It's an above average disaster movie that gives its audience likable protagonists who rather than relying on choreographed stunts or expensive fantastical gadgets need to rely on their prowess and ingenuity to save the day.