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| Movie Review: Transsiberian Alternate Title: Don't Talk to Strangers
Story: How stupid are some American
tourists? This film depicts the ultimate in your worst imagined traveler's
nightmare. Director and writer Brad Anderson has taken
the familiar trapped on a train genre and sadly, jumped the rails along
the way. A do-gooder American couple, decide to take the
long way home after their Church's trip to China on the Trans-siberian
train from Beijing to Moscow. Sounds simple and romantic but as quickly
as they board this mystery train nothing goes according to plan. They
find that they have to share a cabin with another young couple who ooze
with suspicion. When our do-gooder train enthusiast gets separated from
the group things go from creepy to scary quickly. Enter a frightening
narcotics Russian detective, local Gulag ex-residents, heroin, angry
drug dealers, secrets and lies. This was certainly not on their itinerary. Having an American Express card on this trip
would not have helped this stupid couple. After awhile, when they did
such brazenly idiotic things, I gave up caring about them and started
to believe they deserved the mess they were getting into. I would not
say this movie was a train wreck because I did like the scenery and
some of the plot twists, but I cannot yell 'all aboard' either. Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5MUTPx_SIY Acting: Woody Harrelson as the do-gooder Church guy
was not as convincing as he should have been. Emily Mortimer
is fine actor but her role was uneven and weak in spots. I did not buy
her as the reformed bad girl. Kate Mara was interesting,
but did not have much of a part. Eduardo Noriega was
reminiscent of a much younger Benicio Del Toro and was fine to watch.
Ben Kingsley was terrific as the Russian detective,
as always he is.
Trivia: Kate Mara is the great-granddaughter
of the founder of the New York Giants, Timothy Mara and Art Rooney,
founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers. She sings the national anthem at
some Giants home games.
Predilection: None
Blatant Product Placement: Canon Eos Rebel has a HUGE
part in the movie.
Critters: Drug sniffing dogs, a wolf and a hawk.
Food: Lots of drinking, soup, potatoes and train
fare.
Sex Spectrum: Glimpses of sex in a moving train car.
Soundtrack: Tense
Opening Titles: Titles superimposed over our first
meeting with the Church group before the couple goes separately to the
train.
Visual Art: Pretty country.
Theater Audience: About 12 other train enthusiast Weather: Cold, cold and colder in Siberia.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: There are some very squirmy torture
scenes. Drift Factor: I drifted a bit in the middle.
Predictability Level: After awhile, I simply did
not care.
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: If you like train films, it
might make a rental list for you.
Length: 100 minutes
LOBO HOWLS: 6
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