When it comes to action movies, or maybe just movies in general, I tend to have a better time when trains are involved. The more trains, the merrier - that's what I say. So a movie literally called The Train had a lot to live up to.
Fortunately, it's directed by John Frankenheimer, so we're in good hands. He knows how to establish a big scale while keeping everything taut and tight, making for a thriller with both high stakes and personal characterizations. It's kinda modern in that sense, though that could also be because it basically plays out like a heist movie, or because it leans so heavily on explosive spectacle.
Both of these elements should probably intrude on the grim premise, but they really don't, and I'm guessing that's due to the fact that everything feels so authentic. We're dealing with real locations, real trains, real stunts (which might explain why Lancaster's here, even though his character is supposed to be French), and real explosions. On top of creating a viscerally sweaty and industrial texture, this really puts into perspective the risks these guys are taking, and it forces you to ask whether any of it is actually worth the effort in the first place. But I guess that's war for you.
Grade: A
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