I anticipated quite a bit from TRAIN DREAMS, mainly because I’d heard such positive things from people I know in film and had noticed some awards attention surrounding it. The movie really leans into 'slow cinema,' focusing on creating an atmosphere and feeling rather than following a standard storyline. I'm drawn to films that use natural visuals, and this one offers just that—a purely visual experience, making the most of our world’s beauty with gorgeous, still images of sunsets by rivers and cabins nestled in forests. Even though it feels like something we’ve seen before, and you can probably guess where things are headed early on, it remains engaging because of the incredibly evocative music and narration, which establishes a poetic feel without becoming overly sentimental. Joel Edgerton gives what I consider to be his finest performance yet. It's a remarkable demonstration of understated acting—a role with very little dialogue, but he manages to convey so much emotion, sadness, and strength through his expressions alone. It’s a moving story about living, losing, and persevering, and it includes some unexpectedly funny moments along the way. I would have liked to see the film explore certain ideas more fully—particularly concerning instances of serious wrongdoing by the main character, as well as the deeper pain he experiences—but I recognize that pushing too hard in those areas might have clashed with Clint Bentley’s deliberate choice to keep conversations minimal. Ultimately, TRAIN DREAMS is a reminder of how powerful it can be to simply endure, showing that an understated existence deserves attention just as much as one filled with spectacle. Rating: B

Source on TMDB