UNSTOPPABLE (2010)

Unstoppable (2010)

Genre: Action, Thriller

Director: Tony Scott

Writer: Mark Bomback

Stars: Denzel Washington, Chris Pine ,Rosario Dawson 

My score 4/5

If you can actually make an action movie without making the shootings, explosions, fights and stunts so prominent, and still can pull out like a hero then that movie has to be really special. Such movies are seldom or even if it comes out they are boring. BUT ‘Unstoppable’ proves the unthinkable. It has drama, it has action, and it’s one of the best of thrill rides of 2010 no doubt. Its seems like Tony Scott has made a comeback and did something really memorable after his last train flick Phelm 123 ended up being a total wreck even if it had impressive cast. Including Denzel Washington.

The story is about a train (777) which is accidently running at increasing speeds, totally unmanned carrying several carriages of explosive material and heading towards populated areas. The train company pulls off several rescue and stop attempts at 777 but it seems like this monster is no way near of stopping. Mean while a veteran train engineer Frank (Denzel Washington-Inside Man, American Gangster) and 4 months at his job rookie Will (Chris Pine- Star Trek, Smoking Aces) finds out that 777 is heading right towards them in the same track they are running, and there is a slight chance to get out. But Frank decides that when all attempts at stopping 777 fails; he should step in and do something. Taking his 28 years of experience as a knife he and Will cuts to the chase to bring down 777 to a 0mph. 

The plot unravels in several perspectives. From the point of Frank and Will on the track and mainly from the control room end at the train company.  Also it takes us to visit Frank’s daughters, Will’s wife and the train company head office while groundbreaking decisions are made and corporate nonsense starts to set in. Even while the movie is completely running at thrilling speeds it finds time to build the characters. Make the viewer realize what Frank and Will has back at home and eventually turns the tables to have an emotional ending along with a heroic one. 

Cinematographically ‘Unstoppable’ is a bumpy ride. The camera moves, constant speed and thundering sound effects might make you dizzy some times. And the camera keeps jumping from movie cameras to the TV crew cameras (Who cover the event) real time which adds more drama. But that much drama is required to show how tough the ride is and how challenging it is to stop a train half mile long and running at 70mph. There is the job is very well done. 

Denzel does his part with talent just like he always does to his rolls. It’s truly nice to look at his character and the wise old views of life coming out of him. 

The script may have their technical glitch who knows! I don’t know anything about trains or how it runs on those tracks and who controls it. But ‘Unstoppable’ give you goose bumps over and over and that’s good enough thrill for me. 

‘Unstoppable’ is a feast for locomotive lovers and to the everyday action movie lovers the same. Just as the name says once you hit the momentum this movie is totally ‘Unstoppable’. 

Trailer