Train Dreams – Review

The hypnotic flow of Train Dreams is alluring and enthralling, despite a slower pace. The film never drags, and presents a realistic look of the early-to-mid 1900s for hard working men. Whether building tracks, or chopping down trees for lumber yards, frontier workers were looking to make their living however they could, and however dangerous it may be.

Focusing on a man named Robert Grainier (Edgerton), Train Dreams follows his life through his trials and tribulations of hard work and survival. He meets a young woman named Gladys (Jones), and the pair marry and have a child, named Kate. Though Robert spends most of his time away from his family, his bond with them remains strong. Robert spends time with the Spokane International Railway building tracks and bridges for train passage, as well as lodging. Eventually he and Gladys decide that a lumber mill would keep him closer to home, so after one last season away he plans on doing just that. Unfortunately, life has other plans for him.

The film is definitely primarily drama, there is no real action or sense of adventure, just gritty hard work and life introspection, covering decades. Not everything goes as planned, and there are plenty of heartbreaks along the way. While pure dramas are not usually my forte, this one worked well for me regardless and provided as much beauty as tragedy.

Based on a short book, the film is told through narration and dialogue. The finished product is primarily talking, but it is never boring. It feels authentic, and delivers pensive moments and fleshed out characters. The direction and cinematography are both very strong, with the visuals as important as the narration and inner-thoughts of the characters. It presents all kinds of drama, and the actors handle their roles with a fine and distinguished edge. It never trudges into unrealistic territory, and is likely quite a good reflection of life in the past. The story is very human, and the quality is high.