Film Reviews
By Rama Gaind
UNSTOPPABLE
Actual events of 2001 in Ohio were the inspiration behind Unstoppable, an action-packed ride from director Tony Scott.
Two ordinary people find themselves at the centre of circumstances that are extraordinary. Human stupidity resulted in runaway train 777 heading for disaster as it careered driverless down the track.
The situation is more complicated when it’s realised that 777 is carrying several cars of molten phenol, a highly toxic chemical that will devastate Will’s home town of Stanton if the train crashes there.
Twenty-eight-year railway veteran is train engineer Frank Barnes (Denzel Washington) and Will Colson (Chris Pine), a young conductor, is on his first day on the job.
Together they have to race the clock and stop an unmanned runaway train before it hits a train full of school children on a field trip or the ordinary freight locomotive manned by Barnes and Colson.
We also get a chance to get an insight into their personal lives. Will is estranged from his wife and child and Frank is a widower with two teenage daughters.
Heading for fame as a result of averting disaster, they are aided by Connie Hooper (Rosario Dawson), the railway traffic controller at the base headquarters. She is constantly frustrated by the unimpressive attempts of boss Galvin (Kevin Dunn) to find the cheapest way to solve the problems.
This is an adrenaline-fuelled reality of ordinary people placed in extraordinary circumstances.
An impressive old-fashioned action thriller.
MORNING GLORY
Diane Keaton, Harrison Ford and Rachel McAdams star in this barely tolerable romantic comedy set in the dysfunctional world of morning television.
When Becky (McAdams) decides to revitalise the show by bringing on legendary TV anchor Mike Pomeroy (Ford) sparks fly between him and co-host Colleen Peck(Keaton).
How she goes about saving the show, her job and her personal life makes for average viewing.
Good talent is wasted.
