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Runaway Train (1985)

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3 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

So brutish a prisoner that the Warden (Ryan) had him welded into his cell for three years, Voight goes on the run through the Alaskan winter with only Eric Roberts to keep him warm. They sneak into the back of a four-engine work train, but the engineer has a heart attack, the brakes burn out, the track controller's computers can't cope, and the engineer's sleeping assistant turns out to be - a woman. So sit tight and watch four matt black shunters, looking like beasts from the pit of hell, go charging through the tundra, while Voight and Roberts slug it out over the girl, life, fate, and who's going to have to go outside. Then there is the problem of the Warden being winched down by chopper for one last showdown. The surprise is that Konchalovsky has taken such an obviously pat formula (from an original screenplay by Kurosawa) and made it work remarkably well. Somehow one leaves aside the blatant implausibilities, the coincidences, even Eric Roberts, and takes great pleasure in a breakneck ride to the end of the line. And Voight has finally found his niche, abandoning all those wet-eyed liberal roles and playing to the hilt a hideous, raving beast, with scars. Great ending, too. CPea.

Author: CPea

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

Jack Schroeder said...

Posted on Jan 16 2009 07:22 The first half hour showing prison life is somewhat cartoonish, but compelling just the same. The main characters and the conflict among them is well established. Then the train of the title appears, and it's "Hold on to your hats!" Minor chacters are vividly drawn, and contribute to the momentum as the train picks up speed. The action is sustained and well-directed. Eric Roberts chews the scenery, as he tended to do, but John Voight shows him how it's done, both in character and as a professional actor. He's superb througout. The action sequences are perfect in showing fragile humans facing impossible situations: No CGI, no blue screen, just excellent stunt and camera work. The cold snowy landscape is so real that on the coldest night of the year (tonight), I put the movie in the player, wrap myself with a blanket, and thank what gods there may be that I'm a movie lover.

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kezsez said...

Posted on May 06 2008 21:56 Fantastic score and cinematography is what this film is all about. Jon Voight is superb as 'Manny'. He acting is first class and makes his character truely hard as fuck and 'at war with the world'. The film,however, is corrupted by his fellow train passengers with some second rate over-acting and some third rate over-acting on top of that. Embarressing and terrible. Fortunately this doesn't drag it into the quagmire and only merely detracts slightly from wonderful performances, some excellent direction, beautiful scenery and a perfect score. Top dollar.

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Paul Simmons said...

Posted on Aug 18 2007 19:04 A Classic inmate runaway story, with all the action and suspense you need.
Actors Roberts and Voigt team up good and the director takes them and us for a helluva ride, Alaska as a backdrop is a nice touch.

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