Joel Edgerton’s Western Drama Is Stunning To Behold & Yet I Just Couldn’t Fall In Love With It

Train Dreams
requires endurance. It’s a gradual, meandering but intimate exploration of the American West within the early the twentieth century. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Terrence Malick, director Clint Bentley adapts the screenplay (with co-writer Greg Kwedar) from Denis Johnson’s novel. The movie is visually attractive, with among the greatest cinematography at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, and whereas I appreciated its introspection, it’s far too drawn out and aimless. I wished to like the historic drama however its philosophical musings can solely take the movie up to now.

Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton) is a humble logger who spends time together with his spouse Gladys (Felicity Jones) and daughter Kate in his low season. The narration by Will Patton tells us that Grainier labored on the prepare mission and that it was one thing he’d by no means do once more after a Chinese language immigrant is thrown over a bridge by bigots. This haunts Grainier and he believes the dangerous issues taking place to him are as a consequence of his failure to assist the person who was killed. The movie spans a number of a long time as Grainier goes by means of life, its tragedies, and happier moments.

Prepare Goals Is Adrift In An Overlong Story

There’s a lot to love about Prepare Goals. Its cinematography, by Adolpho Veloso, is completely breathtaking. The movie spends a lot of its time outdoors and takes benefit of nature’s splendor — its majestic forests and calm riversides. Grainier finds himself drawn to it, gazing on the evening sky or strolling by means of the woods. He by no means says a lot however he’s all the time on the lookout for goal in his life, although it solely ever comes as soon as. That revelation, that the aimlessness Grainier feels by no means lets up, is highly effective. So many films inform us there’s that means in all the pieces, however Prepare Goals isn’t so fast to observe that very same path.

The movie is probably extra in tune with nature and the land than its characters, who’re merely passing by means of. Bentley’s movie is a love letter to the people who find themselves forgotten regardless of having devoted their blood, sweat, and tears to logging, but it surely asserts that, whereas what occurs to the earth due to people has penalties, there’s not all the time a rhyme or purpose to issues. Grainier wanting responsible his life’s tragedies on being cursed is a technique to give the dangerous stuff a purpose earlier than returning to wandering.

Nonetheless, that is additionally the place the movie falters, because it focuses on his guilt for a great stretch of the movie whereas the anonymous man who haunts his desires embodies the silent Asian trope. The narration isn’t grating and it’s fairly pretty at instances, giving us simply sufficient with out overexplaining. However the total lack of dialogue in an overlong movie forces our consideration to wane. There’s solely a lot Edgerton can do — and he does rather a lot in a job that calls for his all — to keep up our curiosity. The philosophical parts of the movie could be highly effective, particularly within the moments of Grainier’s nice ache, however the movie’s greatest tragedy occurs too quickly and leaves us stranded in a story that generally feels as misplaced as Edgerton’s protagonist.

Joel Edgerton Steals The Present In Prepare Goals

The Actor Offers A Nuanced Efficiency

Edgerton is incredible as Grainier. He’s plausible as a logger who’s been worn down by time, heartbreak, and dealing such a strenuous job. He’s okay to get by as a result of he’s accepted that is his life, however he’d a lot relatively be at residence together with his spouse and youngster. The actor layers his efficiency with a deep sense of weariness and quiet meditation, happiness and despair. Being a logger takes its toll and Edgerton’s physicality enhances the grisly facet and hardship of Grainier’s work. In a largely quiet position, Edgerton should convey all the pieces by means of his face and physique language and he’s charming.

Jones can be breathtaking as Gladys. She’s extra assertive than Edgerton’s character and portrays a poised, loving lady and mom who helps to make ends meet. She and Edgerton are pretty collectively. Supporting gamers like William H. Macy, whose look is temporary however affecting, assist to flesh out the world of Prepare Goals and Grainier’s story. At instances, the film is deeply compelling, however its complexities can get misplaced within the shuffle and repetition of the identical factors. Putting cinematography and philosophical reflections can’t make up for this too-slow movie that pokes at life’s significant moments with out inspecting them additional.

Prepare Goals premiered on the 2025 Sundance Movie Competition.

Train Dreams

Launch Date

January 26, 2025

Runtime

102 Minutes

Director

Clint Bentley

Writers

Greg Kwedar

Producers

Casey Affleck, Marissa McMahon, Will Janowitz, Scott Hinckley, Teddy Schwarzman, John Friedberg

Execs & Cons

• Joel Edgerton offers a nuanced efficiency
• The movie is visually gorgeous

• Prepare Goals could be too gradual, getting misplaced in its personal musings
• Curiosity within the narrative wanes because it turns into repetitive