Life Is What You Make It: ‘Train Dreams’ Review

We could spend our whole lives wondering why everything continually happens to us, or we can open our eyes and see all the life that we have lived already. Remarkable lives that have had meaning more than the events that we contrive for ourselves as our defining moments. That, at least, is what director Clint Bentley portrays in his beautiful exploration of life, ‘ Train Dreams.’ ‘Train Dreams’ is a moving exploration of one man’s journey through life and the events, he supposes, that define it. Based on the novella by Denis Johnson, ‘Train Dreams’ will change your perspective on how you see your life and what it means. It serves as a beautiful monument to the American spirit and the people on whose backs it was built.

Set in the quickly evolving early 20th century, ‘Train Dreams’ tells the story of Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a logger, a railway man, and a family man. Feeling like a home movie, the audience follows Grainier as the events of his life unfold around him, causing him to feel like an omen of bad fortune. As people come and go throughout his life, Grainier begins to develop an appreciation for life and all that it has brought him.

Masterful Filmmaking

The choices that went into the production of ‘Train Dreams’ were top-notch, A-plus decisions. Every single one of them. From the formatting to giving it the feel of a home movie, the film is a masterclass in filmmaking. Clint Bentley gives the film a personal feel with his use of narration and aspect ratio. The feeling of watching home movies gives the viewer a sense of introspection. It feels like watching a long-lost family member as they make their way through history to you.

‘Train Dreams’ is a joy to look at. The cinematography is incredible and engaging. Shot mostly outdoors, the film never feels too bright or too dark. It feels perfect. The mood persists throughout. I found myself lost just in the scenery as I was watching the performances. ‘Train Dreams’ will most certainly see a number of several of awards nods for its film work.

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While the Film was gorgeous 98% of the film, the 2% that wasn’t was pretty glaring. Being produced on a much lower budget, the choice to go with much flimsier CGI effects makes sense, but only if you can’t do things practically. The forest fire scene, for instance, was hindered by the lackluster CG. It looked markedly fake. For a scene you must get right, this was a big slip-up.

Looking Through History’s Lens

The United States at the turn of the 20th century was unique. It tends to feel old, while new at the same time. While there are horse and buggies, there are cars too, as well as electricity. Cities felt like they were on the precipice of what we would consider modernity. The frontier was a place out of time, running into the future. All of this is incredibly hard to get across on film without feeling like you’re watching a time travel movie because, genuinely, that’s kind of what it is.

‘Train Dreams’ handles this masterfully through subtle time jumps and historically perfect costume design. The costumes were a dream for those of us who enjoy a period piece. The film itself takes place from around 1890 and ends in 1968. There’s a lot of fashion changes between point A and point B, and that was the key to unlocking a film that felt fluid throughout while traversing a seemingly shifting timeline.

Lending body and soul to the costumes is the stupendous cast led by a brooding and withdrawn Joel Edgerton. Edgerton nails WHO Robert Grainier is. As Grainier evolved throughout his life, it was important that Edgerton keep the roots of Grainier true to who he was. A good person who has had bad things happen to them. The support he receives from the likes of William H. Macy, Felicity Jones, and Kerry Condon provides the much-needed life to Grainier that makes his story worth telling. Each plays a compelling role in the evolution of a man searching for meaning within life. The chemistry was quite good, and each support role played its part exquisitely. ‘Train Dreams’ could have been a film that was good, but boring. The cast made sure that it didn’t.

Final Thoughts

Clint Bentley’s ‘Train Dreams’ is a masterpiece of American cinema that masterfully gets at the heart and soul of the human spirit. The film serves as a monument to love, life, and humanity. When you find yourself with some time over this holiday break, take a minute to sit down and enjoy what one of the most beautifully full films of the year.

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