Unstoppable

Prepare for Thrills and Spills Without Frills on The Rails
Unstoppable, PG-13, ****, Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson, Ethan Suplee. 20th Century Fox film. Director Tony Scott. Length 98 minutes.

As a young boy, I had a fascination with trains. I loved the Electric Train Set I received from Santa Claus one Christmas. Train sets were a part of growing up. My uncle worked for a railroad company, and he showed me the railroad yard once. Looking at the monster trains and the power they posses was an unforgettable moment. It was something I still remember fondly. Sadly he and his wife were killed at the railroad crossing in Selmer.
Afterwards a safety gate was constructed. It has since been removed.
I rode a train from Rome, Italy to Zurich, Switzerland several years ago, and then from Switzerland to Milan, Italy. The passengers did not have the courtesy to speak English, so it was quiet an experience.
“Unstoppable” is about the power of trains and the destruction they are capable of bringing on society if mistakes are made.
The story was inspired by true events. A train was being moved to another track when it accidentally left the railroad yard by human error. Without anyone aboard, the runaway train was going to be difficult to stop.
It was first thought to be a coaster which meant it was not under much power. However, the throttle was open wide, and it was traveling at a high rate of speed.
Furthermore, it was carrying dangerous chemicals that could cause a horrible disaster if the train crashes. To add to the scenario, it was headed toward another train traveling on the same track.
Barnes (Denzel Washington) is a seasoned engineer who must work with and watch over newcomer Colson (Chris Pine) as a conductor. They are on the same track as the unmanned train, and they are headed straight toward a possible head on collision. This in itself makes for a highly tense movie. Add to that the dangerous chemicals, and disaster is in the making.
With the taut dialogue in this film and unknown consequences that may happen, the viewer will be transported to some very edgy moments.
Director, Tony Scott keeps the action pace and story moving at top speed throughout the film. The music paces with the tension and story as the audience wonders just exactly what will take place. With apprehension building even more, we observe the corporate attitude about losing money vs. losing human life. The theme is also about older guys losing jobs to a new generation.
The whole movie gives the audience a feeling of realism. It is as if we are on the train and trying to figure out what to do in order to stop a catastrophic event from taking place.
From the workers in charge of the trains, the managers trying to make decisions about saving lives, to the corporate executives worried about money, the tension takes the audience on a ride through a total gauntlet of anxiety.
I recommend this film for acting, suspense, friendship, and interconnected stories.