Train Dreams

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⭐9/10

This is an ultra sad, feel bad-type movie. It's about Joel Edgerton as a lumberjack in early 20th century America as he deals with grief and changing times. The beautiful thing about this movie, though, is that he's not exactly in touch with his emotions despite being a good-natured, somewhat sensitive guy. He's not going to go on a long, pretentious soliloquy about the nature of being, and that is to the movie's credit. 

I think this is Edgerton's most impressive performance that I've seen. He is quiet, understated, and consistent in his role. It's one of those roles where he really changes his voice and nature, fully a different character. The entire movie has a wonderful sense of melancholy, and Edgerton embodies this with a great sense of solitude. 

A few other quick hitters: this movie is absolutely gorgeous, one of the prettiest movies I've ever seen, one made specifically for me. I thought William Macy kinda steals the show in act 1. I also loved the bits about felling these ancient trees and that being hard on the soul. As you see the world develop and change, it's hard to see it as a positive. 

I cried way too much in this movie. Pretty much the entire second half. I like sad movies, but this one felt like a little much. And despite the solid writing, I did think the ending started to slip a bit, went away from its identity. These damn writers always need to try and get deep when silence probably would have served better! It made me think a lot of Call from Lonesome Dove. That's a book that's unrelenting in its consistency, and the characters are pretty similar. It's an unfair comparison, but I do think that book was a more unique, dynamic meditation on grief. 

I still loved the movie. It was beautiful, emotional, and clearly illicitied a response from me. Just short of a perfect score.

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