Transsiberian (2008)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Brad Anderson

Writers (WGA):

Brad Anderson (written by) &
Will Conroy (written by)

Release Date:

24 October 2008 (Spain)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Arrive on time.

Plot:

A Trans-Siberian train journey from China to Moscow becomes a thrilling chase of deception and murder when an American couple encounters a mysterious pair of fellow travelers.

Plot Keywords:

Train | Photograph | Train Journey | Murder | American Abroad

Awards:

2 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Woody Harrelson	...	Roy
Emily Mortimer	...	Jessie
Ben Kingsley	...	Grinko
Kate Mara	...	Abby
Eduardo Noriega	...	Carlos
Thomas Kretschmann	...	Kolzak
Etienne Chicot	...	Frenchman
Mac McDonald	...	Minister
Colin Stinton	...	Embassy Official
Perlis Vaisieta	...	Manager Hotel Pushkin
Mindaugas Papinigis	...	Young Detective
Mindaugas Capas	...	Military Officer
Visockaite Sonata	...	Female Train Attendant #1 (as Sonata Visockaite)
Larisa Kalpokaite	...	Female Train Attendant #2
Valentinas Krulikovskis	...	Young Waiter

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence, including torture and language.

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

UK | Germany | Spain | Lithuania

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Germany:16 | USA:R | Singapore:NC-16 | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-15 | UK:15 (cut) | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Lithuanian Film Studios, Vilnius, Lithuania

Company:

Filmax Group

Goofs:

Continuity: At the end of the movie, the main couple drives a train. A locomotive with three cars. Jessie closes all the doors of the cars and then goes back to Roy, who is operating the locomotive. But there is no way to get from the cars to the locomotive.

Quotes:

Grinko: In Russia, we have expression. "With lies, you may go ahead in the world, but you may never go back." Do you understand this, Jessie?

Strangers on a strange train

A church-going Iowa couple has just finished missionary work in China and is headed home via the Transsiberian railway. Hubby loves trains. Wife, who we learn has an alcoholic past, wants a bit of adventure. They get more than they bargained for.

They meet another, younger adventurous couple on board the train. He's a charming, raffish Spaniard. She's a 20-year-old American runaway from Seattle who clearly bears psychic wounds. They seem to be up to something sinister.

Emily Mortimer is Jessie, the American wife. She senses danger long before here clueless husband, played by Woody Harrelson, who thinks being an American gives you a free pass all over the world.

The movie opens in Moscow, where we see police detective Grinko, Ben Kingsley, investigating a double murder of two gangsters. A big stash of heroin is also missing. Hmmm. Who has that heroin now?

Back in Siberia (actually Lithuania), things are getting tense aboard the train. The charming Spaniard is making a subtle play for Jessie. Outside, endless miles of frozen forests. Inside, raucous Russians downing vodka, comparing scars, smoking and singing. The railroad "hostesses" live in a constant state of pissedoff-ness toward the passengers. Amtrak it ain't.

The first half of this movie is fairly slow as we get to know the characters. Then, during a layover at a remote village, an incident happens that puts the movie into total, nail-biting overdrive. The second half is as gripping as any movie I've ever seen. As riveting as anything Hitchcock has ever done ... and this is from a major Hitchcock fan.

Warning: late in the movie there is a torture sequence of a woman that caused a few in the audience I saw it with walk out.

I'm sorry they walked out. The final sequence is a scene of absolute, though non-violent, reciprocity.

I hope this movie makes it to a large audience of suspense movie lovers. They won't be disappointed.