“THRILLS AND SPILLS”
Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pine and Rosario Dawson
Directed by: Tony Scott
MPAA Rated: PG 13 for sequences of action and peril and some language
Genre: Thriller, Action/Adventure, and Drama
Running Time: 1hr 38min
Release Date: November 12th, 2010
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox Distribution
By John Delia
Incredible as it may seem Unstoppable takes a ‘what if?’ premise and turns it into an event. Inspired by a true occurrence, director Tony Scott sculpts a high energy thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from it’s suspense filled beginning to the cringing end of the line. If you are familiar with Tony Scott’s work then you know his brand of explosive storytelling aimed at thrill seekers and Unstoppable tops his list.
The storyline is a simple one; workers in a train yard make a mistake that sends an unmanned engine pulling several cars loaded with poisonous gas down a track at high speed. The train is headed for a city where the track bends to a turn that must be taken at a slow rate of speed. If the train jumps the track, a whole city could be wiped out.
In the mix of the challenging dilemma are experienced engineer Frank Barnes (Washington) and apprentice conductor Will Colson (Pine) in an overloaded train that happens to be on the same track as the runaway. Guiding them is assistant train yard supervisor Connie Cooper (Dawson). With a town in peril and a lot of inexperience taking on the challenge the inevitable seems to be the only result.
Director Scott (Man on Fire, Déjà Vu) takes this one premise, adds excellent actors Washington and Pine and puts them into the unstable situation of trying to change a certainty. With awesome special effects, mounting suspense and plenty of explosions, Scott provides a thrill a minute. There were times that I found myself breathless as the two men worked their way into the action of the runaway train.
The film is rated PG 13 for sequences of action and peril and some language. If you really want the full effect of this suspenseful film, then shy away from seeing the trailer before you go.
FINAL ANALYSIS: An awesome suspenseful hour and a half of thrills. (5 of 5)