By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.2 cats
Director: Clint Bentley
Starring: Clifton Collins Jr. | David Paul Olsen | Felicity Jones | Joel Edgerton | Kerry Condon | William H. Macy
Year: 2025
Running time: 102
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29768334
Diane says: “As a fan of the novel, I was disappointed in TRAIN DREAMS. Where is the laugh-out loud humor (read the vignette about the man who was shot by his dog), the guilt that plagues Robert for things he’s actually done, the legend of the wolf-girl that gives him a strange kind of hope?
“I’m a sucker for good woods cinematography, though, and TRAIN DREAMS is beautiful. The still shots of moments that seem unreal are especially noteworthy.
“Robert was too well-spoken and clean for my liking. Makeup gets 1 cat–the women are covered in it.
“I look forward to others’ takes, especially folks who haven’t read the book.”
Jessica replies: “TRAIN DREAMS was probably my favorite thing I saw at the fall focus this year, but that stretch of time after the fire until maybe the last like, 10 minutes, loses a little steam for me. I gotta watch it again now that it’s out so I can see it better with different glasses. 4 cats”
Chris replies; ‘I haven’t read the book but as a film, I thought this was gorgeously shot and edited with agility to the point where I was rarely bored or distracted. Perhaps as close to capturing the essence of a lifetime a single feature can likely reach. Joel Edgerton disappears into another role but enables us to see, feel and fully comprehend the part he plays. 4.5 cats”
Michael replies: “While I enjoyed TRAIN DREAMS quite a bit, I did feel it was lacking something, I’m not sure what. Perhaps it’s what Diane mentioned, that there wasn’t a whole lot of variance in tone. I didn’t mind the fact that Robert was fairly well-spoken. I do think he was an intelligent man, and curious, always learning, but I would have liked to see more range of emotion at the various points, I think. I actually felt the characters were the most alive when Robert was speaking with Kerry Condon’s character. Those two scenes were the most engaging for me. 4 cats for me.”
Julie replies: “Cinematography was great. I thought it was a bigger budget film than it was! I was engaged throughout which I did not think I would be since period pieces are not my thing. I liked all the communion with nature in this and the idea of designing one’s home from scratch was super cool. Pick your favorite spot and build it yourself. The story of an entire life put into a film so well and succinctly was nicely done. I was moved by the story re making sense of one’s life. I did not read the book. 4.25 cats”
Ivy replies: “I also hadn’t read the book and also loved the film. It too was my favorite from Fall Focus and may end up at the top of my list for the year. I was completely charmed.
“I was almost brought to tears by how lusciously it was shot at the very beginning of the film, and I was in tears at the end by the beautifully delicate sentiment of finding value in the loneliness of life.
“I loved the ghost/haunting, the moments of humor, the narration, all the craggy old guys, and the fact that it brought in things that resonate in modern life like immigrant detention and the negative impact humans have on the environment. The pacific northwest environment was luscious.
“Yes to everything Chris says!
“Diane, thank you for letting me know how much more there is to get out of the book (isn’t that always the case with adaptations?) I have struggled with Denis Johnson’s writing in the past, but will try it again.”