If you have not seen the 1985 movie Runaway Train, it will take you back to the time when action movies were about more than explosions. Even though there is plenty of action this film, there also is a lot more.
Runaway Train features one of Jon Voight’s greatest performances. And it also has a meaningful story that has something to say about life and freedom.
The movie opens in an Alaska prison, where Voight plays an inmate. The inmate, Manny, is despised by the prison’s warden. Another prisoner named Buck — who is played by a young Eric Roberts idolizes Manny.
When Manny makes a move to escape, Buck goes with him. Not long after getting out of prison, the two end up on a train, which as you may guess from the movie’s title, becomes a runaway train due to various circumstances.
Although that is the basic plot, there is a lot more going on in the story. Much of the best part of the movie is the interactions between the characters and what the story has to say about life, freedom, and death.
In many ways Runaway Train is an existential movie about choices we make, either dictated by luck or by our own choosing. If the movie had nothing else going for it, the movie is worth watching for the final haunting scene.
Runaway Train also stars Rebecca De Mornay and was directed by Andrei Konchalovsky. One may surmise that some of the depth of the film came from the original version of the screenplay that was written by the great director Akira Kurosawa.
Kurosawa explored similar themes in his own movies, including in a much quieter way in the wonderful Ikuru (1952). The acting, especially by Voight, is also excellent, as both Voight and Roberts were nominated for Academy Awards for their roles.
Conclusion?
If you have never seen Runaway Train, you are in for a treat if you enjoy thoughtful movies. Although the movie features plenty of action, it does not have the myriad of explosions of modern movies. This movie is really about something. Runaway Train is one of the great existential action films of all time.
Other Reviews Because Why Should You Trust Me? On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has an 86% critics rating and a 77% audience rating. If you do not believe me about the movie, here are Robert Ebert, who loved the movie, and Gene Siskel, who did not, discussing Runaway Train.
{Missed Movies is our continuing series on good films you might have missed because they have not received the recognition and attention they deserve.}
What did you think of Runaway Train? Leave your two cents in the comments.
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