Transsiberian (2008)

This is one of those movies that I know a little about beforehand but then takes a turn and goes into completely unexpected territory. Directed and co-written by Brad Anderson, Transsiberian tells the thrilling tale of married couple Jessie (Emily Mortimer) and Roy (Woody Harrelson), taking the train through Russia on their way home to America from a missionary trip to China. Jessie, an amateur photographer, goes around the train with her camera while Roy, an aw-shucks, friendly kind of guy, makes friends with their bunkmates, Abby (Kate Mara) and Carlos (Eduardo Noriega). As the couples warm up to each other we learn some interesting facts about each everyone's pasts.

Jessie, who refuses all alcohol, used to live a pretty wild life after she ran away from home as a teenager. She met the religious Roy when she crashed into him while driving drunk. Abby is also a runaway and hoping to make enough money to buy back a lake house in Vancouver that used to belong to her uncle. Carlos claims to be transporting babushka dolls to sell in Europe, but almost any time he is in a conversation there is a feeling of uncertainty and looming terror in the air. It's like a clue or something. After Roy get left behind and Jessie waits at the next station with Abby and Carlos, the story really takes off, involving things like sexual harassment, drug trafficking, photography, murder, torture, and a good amount of running. I don't want to spoil it though, except to say that Ben Kingsley is involved.

Without giving too much away I can say that this is a really exciting film that does some interesting things with its characters and premise. I didn't expect it to explore the themes it did, and I liked being surprised at various turns, although a few plot points were predictable. It is a great example of ordinary people thrust into an extraordinary situation and their resulting life-changing decisions. Emily Mortimer carried the whole thing, which was nice since I haven't seen her really star in anything, and she was quite good. She played the duplicitous but well-meaning Jessie with grit and skill. Woody Harrelson was his adorable self but wasn't in it very much (I guess I expected more of a lead role). Ben Kingsley was creepy, Russian, and badass.

Overall I really liked Transsiberian. It is intense and creative, but oscillates between being slow-moving and really well-paced. It took a while to build up to the direction it wanted to go, if that makes sense. It's the kind of film I enjoyed a lot but don't really feel the need to re-watch. Also maybe it has given me a Fear of Trains.

4/5