Unstoppable

Unstoppable
Director: Tony Scott
92 minutes
2.40:1

It is said that everybody loves to watch a train wreck. Unstoppable is not one and it is worth watching.

Human error caused a train to go off the train yard without an engineer on board. Carrying hazardous chemicals, the speeding train is a disaster waiting to happen, unless a rookie conductor and an experienced engineer can stop it. This story is loosely based on a true incident.

Scott did a tremendous job of heightening tension here as making a moving train look dangerous is not easy. It's also not easy to shoot the human drama when the actors are on the actual speeding train. Writer Mark Bomback script is smart in explaining to the audience the technical difficulties in stopping a train while keeping the suspense intact. Director of photography Ben Serensen captured the action and vista brilliantly. While Denzel Washington and Chris Pine get the top billing, Rosario Dawson is also a key cast member. Indeed the entire ensemble is commendable in making the show entirely believable.

There are CGI effects to be seen here but they are hard to find if you're not paying attention - and that usually means it's really good. The sound design and mixing are wonderfully balanced between the calming lull of the countryside and the rush of the runaway train.

Tony Scott has created one hell of a ride that features no bad guys and one Unstoppable train.