Train Dreams

I haven't read the book. Thank goodness because by the sounds of the other reviews I might be disappointed.

But honestly I'm not sure how you could be with a movie like this. It is real and deep and so so sad but in such a wonderful and human way.

Memories of hugely inspiring books and movies from my youth such as "on the black hill" by Bruce Chatwin or "into the wild" the story of Chris Mcandless come flooding back as we follow simple woodsman Robert as he strangely appears in the world and navigates life, death, friendship and loss and generally wonders what the hell is it all about?

It is a beautifully woven film full of intense colours and shades of the natural world, you can feel the warmth of the fire, the glow of the sunset and the crisp notes of the snow. Incredible camerawork make every scene a visual experience.

The cast are equally good. Joel Edgerton has long been a favorite of mine since his directorial debut "the gift" and he just gets better and better. Wonderful to see william H Macy in such a perfect role too.

I know sad movies are not for everyone and to be honest they are a bit of a time and place for me too. But this was the time and the place and it encapsulated how I was feeling and helped me get a view on that by making me realise that I am not alone in being alone.

We all have our moments of loneliness and loss and sorrow. It is the one thing that makes us all equal as humans. We all have to deal with it sooner or later and no one's pain is greater or more important than any others. It is the true leveller of people in this world.

Robert doesn't understand this or pretend to he just lives this. He embodies this ideology quietly and stoically. He goes about his business and stays out of people's way as much as he can trying to make life work and aware of how risky it all is..He is a good man but he is lost emotionally and is trying to find his way through the world.

I loved it. I don't care if no one else loves it. It touches a very deep nerve with me and for that I am truly thankful for the people who made this film possible. Bravo.

The award-nominated writers of SING SING, Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley, have now upped their game even more with TRAIN DREAMS, this time with Bentley directing. It has a similar theme of the beauty and unpredictability of humanity and the world itself. Based on a novella by Denis Johnson, this is a character study of Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a logger working on a railroad in 1917. He's stoic, a hard-working man with a wife (Felicity Jones) and daughter to take care of. He's a man of few words, but he's thoughtful, looking for purpose in life. Usually, having a narrator could be seen as a crutch, but it's done so well here, voiced by a smooth but powerful Will Patton. He gives us more insight into Robert and the world around him. The movie touches on discrimination during the "Great War", but its main focus is Robert and how the world changes around him. The process of building a railroad represents both destruction and progress. Chopping down trees, then making the world smaller by building railroads. It also focuses on Robert's workmates, one played by William H. Macy. His role is very small, but this might be the best he's ever been. Speaking of "best he's ever been", freakin Joel Edgerton. This man does so much, with little dialogue. It's an award-worthy performance on top of an already awesome career. Humanity's complicated relationship with nature is another theme here. Overall, this is a poetic meditation of America, about the ups and downs of one life among many. I had the privilege of seeing TRAIN DREAMS in a sold-out theatre, and I can't wait for you to see it when it comes to Netflix on November 21. I know this review is early, I just had to put something out there about it. Put it on a list, make a reminder, don't pass this one by when it finally releases!

Train Dreams is one of those films that, at first glance, seem to lean toward easy melancholy and empty contemplation. The premise, centered on the lonely life of a lumberjack in the early 20th century, could suggest a drama that is too slow, stuck in long landscapes and silent emotions. But what Clint Bentley delivers here is something much deeper. In his second feature film, he confirms the sensitivity he had already demonstrated in writing Sing Sing (2024), constructing a delicate experience about memory, loss, the passage of time, and the weight we carry when remembering what will never return.

Above all, the film is about how we deal with life when everything we once were is now behind us. It is about time passing without asking permission and about the people who come in and out of our lives, leaving only memories behind. Bentley and Kwedar transform this theme into something universal: anyone who has ever lost someone, who has seen the world change too quickly, or who has found themselves revisiting memories without knowing why, will find something here that resonates deeply. In the end, the film offers no answers, but leaves us with a powerful reflection: memories are what accompany us to the end, and it is up to us to choose how we want to live them. Time waits for no one, people come and go, but what we hold on to, even what we only realize later, is what shapes who we are. Train Dreams may be slow and contemplative, but it is precisely in this rhythm that it finds depth.

In the end, the film offers no answers, but leaves us with a powerful reflection: memories are what accompany us until the end, and it is up to us to choose how we want to live them. Time waits for no one, people come and go, but what we hold on to, even what we only realize later, is what shapes who we are. Dreams of a Train may be slow and contemplative, but it is precisely in this rhythm that it finds depth. It is one of the most sensitive and impactful films of the year, and certainly one of Netflix's strongest bets to win over audiences and critics. If life is made up of passages, so is cinema, and this is one of those films that remains.

Robert's live is gently lived and not without deep tragedy. The film evokes our own memories, little joys and sadnesses, discoveries, losses, and hopes to bring grace to our self reflection. The film is heartbreakingly beautiful. Acting, editing, direction are just right. Looking forward to more performances from Edgerton.

The calmness we deserve in today's pacing cinema. Loved it. We should have more of these. It's a whisper when everything else is shouting. A deep, soulful meditation on simple survival, memory, and the vast, quiet beauty of passing time. This one stays with you. It lingers, a quiet, profound ache of humanity.