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Brad Anderson is probably the best unknown director working today. He's the independent Christopher Nolan, often making character-driven, psychologically complex flicks that transcend the trappings of their respective genres. In the past he has successfully combined elements from time-travel thrillers and romantic comedies in 2000's "Happy Accidents", delivered a taut "Shining"-esque thriller in 2001's "Session 9" and then provided a stirring Hitchcock homage with 2004's "The Machinist" (which also featured a gonzo performance from Christian Bale). With "Transsiberian" Anderson attempts to breath life back into the often forgotten train-based thriller. Like those three earlier films, "Transsiberian" was made on the cheap, yet still manages to feature great camera-work and well known faces headlining the cast. In terms of the logistics of the location shooting in Lithuania (doubling as Siberia), this arrives as Anderson's most accomplished film from a technical standpoint.

The story starts off with an American couple (a goofy Woody Harrelson and a criminally underrated Emily Mortimer) returning from missionary work in China by route of the famous Transsiberian railroad. Once on board the train, they befriend a young couple (Kata Mara and Eduardo Noriega) who claim to be student-teachers returning from Japan but might be hiding something sinister. The screenplay does a good job of building up to "something" and developing the characters, especially Mortimer's Jessie, delving into her past with expository dialog that makes you care about where these characters are headed and think deeply about their motives. Without giving away too much of the film, entanglements ensue as a drug smuggling operation comes to light, and in steps Ben Kingsley (excellent as a Russian bruiser) as a narcotics detective with a special interest in the case.

There is a point, however, where (pardon the pun) the screenplay derails, and despite some unexpected twists, there never seems to be that big payoff. The film keeps the viewer on their toes with a bizarre turn of events at an abandoned church and a shockingly grim torture scene, but the psychological ramifications of these events are never probed as deeply as they could've been. The seductively cute Mortimer gives a nervy, complex, and excellent performance as Jessie, keeping the viewer invested in her character and what could happen to her even as the screenplay goes all over the map with her development. Woody Harrelson's performance is more of a conundrum as he seems to be playing a book-smart version of his moronic character from "Cheers". He makes you laugh during some of the more ridiculous scenes as the plot holes get deeper, and whether that was intentional or not to break the tension or gloss over the leaps of logic is never clear.

"Transsiberian" should please those looking for something different from your run-of-the-mill Hollywood thriller. Though the screenplay initially gives us characters that feel like real people, the mechanics of the convoluted plot spoil the potential of that development. However, the film still offers up an exotic locale, solid direction, and interesting performances, which makes it easy to recommend.

Trains are famously atmospheric, especially on long runs across remote areas like China to Moscow through Siberia. Voilà: the Transsiberian railway. The quartet who meet in a compartment aren't really likable, but you're thrown in with them, like on a train--the way Roy (Woody Harrelson), his wife Jessie (Emily Mortimer), Carlos (Eduardo Noriega) and Abby (Kate Mara) are thrown together in this tight, exciting, basically old fashioned thriller. This is the new Russia of big money and mafia corruption, but the ingredients are tried and true. Strangers on train: there's something Hitchcockian about the way innocent people get roped into incriminating situations and then appear perhaps not to be so innocent after all.

They're on a very long ride, and in the overheated intensity of the cars (you can't seem to pry the windows open) things are blown out of proportion. They're too naive, too suspicious, too sexy. Roy's too pious and decent and upbeat. Look at the donut and not at the hole, is his motto. He's a very Christian hardware dealer and Jessie is his wife with a wild past that comes out when she meets another woman. They're returning from some sort of Christian outreach project in China. Roy's like a little boy: he loves trains. The Express is like a huge toy all for him. He's very devoted to Jessie, but the sex hasn't been going too well.

The next day into the compartment comes a younger couple. Carlos and Abby say they were teaching in Japan. However, Carlos, a handsome devil, who has his eye on Jessie, seems to know a little too much about how to get past customs with a dodgy passport. He shows off theirs proudly to Jessie, who's had a bit of trouble with the Russians. Her passport and Roy's are too pristine, he says. It makes the officials suspicious. His and Abby's are packed with stamps. They look "real." He's got some of those Russian dolls, the little lacquered things like shoots only with babushka heads, one inside the other. He says his are special, and he's going to sell them for a lot of money.

Well, he is, but that isn't why.

The train makes long stops, and Roy is so fascinated with the cars, he gets involved in a conversation with Carlos, and then the train takes off without him. Abby and Jessie have had a heart-to-heart and Jessie has confessed she had a lot of drug and alcohol problems. Roy says they "met by accident" because they met in an accident, when she was driving drunk and he stayed with her in the hospital. That's when he told her the donut and the hole story.

Carlos is dangerous, handsome, and predatory. Jessie has that wild side gesturing wildly to be let out again. And he could be the one to tease it out.

When Roy gets left behind Jessic has to get off at the next stop and wait for him. Carlos and Abby insist on getting off with her and keeping her company. And that's when the trouble really begins. Stuff happens. Surprising stuff. Or not. Depends on how good you are at predicting this kind of plot.

But the thing is, Brad Anderson and his writing collaborator Will Conroy have put together a story rich in atmosphere, that really convinces you all this could only happen here, on the train, in the snow, in the none-too-touristic rural Russian hotel and on a bus, and out in the middle of nowhere. The outdoors is all snow. The train cars are rickety and yet tough. The woman attendants are all Nurse Ratcheds who speak nothing but loud angry disapproving Russian. The food sucks, but the vodka flows. (Jessie refuses it, but when things get tough, she downs a shot. This is a world bad enough to make all but the strongest lose their sobriety, and she wears her heart on her sleeve.) The Russian fellow travelers are a mixture of camaraderie and hostility.

And then, of course, along comes Ben Kingsley, as Grinko, detective of Russian Narcotics Bureau (no articles, please). When Roy reappears, he's made friends with Grinko. Well, before that, early on, we happen to have seen Grinko examine a man at a table with a knife buried in the back of his head. Cherchez les drugs.

I can't tell you any more. I can tell you that the trains are so lovely they make you understand Roy's enthusiasm. Whole cars give off a smoky ooze of white frozen air whenever you look at them. To heighten our sense of the visual in all this, Jessie is a good amateur photographer, armed with an expensive digital Canon with a big lens, and the images on screen often jump with a hand-held camera, but also step back to take in long views of a skeletal ruined Russian church out in the waste, or to snap a hawk in the sky, or a bunch of huddled old ladies at a station near a rubbish bin where Jessie is trying to dump something incriminating. But wait. Mustn't tell.

It all hinges on moral ambiguity--people who used to be bad, who still are bad, or who turn bad, and getting trapped in your lies. There are some questionable details, especially at the end. Mortimer, usually a supporting actor, has depth and a central role here. Kingsley is as good as ever. Unfortunately the character of Roy is bland and conventional, Abby silent, Carlos more a smile and a sexy body than a personality. But the milieu itself is the richest character, and the too little known Brad Anderson, who made Happy Accidents and The Machinist, again proves his originality with material that follows a time-honored template but with a very fresh feel that keeps you absorbed from beginning to end.

A thriller on the Trans-Siberian railway is not an everyday film premise and that is in part what makes "Transsiberian" interesting. It's not typical in any way unless you count the connection between murder and trains. That, and its cast is quality without seeking out big- hitting names and its director, Brad Anderson ("The Machinist") is a fairly understated one. The story of a married couple onboard the railway and encountering something over their heads is not full of devious twists and turns, but it's attention-getting.

Emily Mortimer and Woody Harrleson star as two married travelers who after going to China to do volunteer work through their church, decide to travel through Russia by train to make their trip a bid more adventurous. After all, we wouldn't have much of a film without them deciding to take the train. On board, they meet Carlos and Abby, a young couple whom they bond with, but who appear more and more suspicious as the film inches toward its first big event.

Not much more can be said without giving away large chunks of the suspenseful elements of the film. It's not bland, but the intrigue of this film is summed up into just a handful of moments. Ben Kingsley, however, has a dynamite supporting role as a Russian homicide/narcotics detective. His performance is crucial to the movie's entertainment value.

I would suspect a lot of people would be less than enamored with "Transsiberian" because it floats between suspenseful thriller and a drama about keeping secrets, telling lies and guilt. It's not pure entertainment, nor is profound with regards to the human condition. Expectation for one or the other is a recipe for not having much of a feeling about this film.

I, however, found the subtlety of Anderson's film a delightful change of pace and the characters played by Mortimer and Harrelson (and the performances they give) easy to sympathize with and unique. Anderson doesn't use any familiar clichés in creating suspense with his film. It just builds toward its few moments and with the help of what I felt was an equally effective score from Spanish composer Alfonso Vilallonga. "Transsiberian" is effective in rhythm and mood, not in plot twists and profundity.

~Steven C

Visit my site at http://moviemusereviews.com

As far as setting and scenery this is a 10. As far as woody's and ben kingsley acting its a 10. Where I feel let down, and I may be a harsh critic but so be it: i think the story is weak. don't get me wrong i was compelled to continue watching because of the suspense and some twists and turns...but when its all said and done i felt like it was pointless...just nothing special, somewhat empty.

Brad Anderson is one of those directors who everyone thinks they like until they look him up. Since getting attention with his creepy (but unsatisfying) Session 9 in 2001 his only feature of note was 2004's The Machinist - a movie which will always remain more famous for the extraordinary physical transformation of its star (Christian Bale) than its effectiveness as a creepy thriller. This is partly because Bale's emaciated form was genuinely mesmerising but mostly because the movie just isn't very good. So, after a few years directing TV episodes, Anderson had something to prove with his latest - Transsiberian.

I've never really thought of Emily Mortimer as a leading lady. She's always seemed either hopelessly insipid or appears to be battling some unrecognisable accent and a cold at the same time. It may come as a surprise then to learn that she is one of the best things about Transsiberian but unfortunately that statement comes with a number of disappointing caveats. In the film Mortimer and a mis-cast, toupee sporting Woody Harrelson play a husband and wife heading home to the US after completing charity work in China. In a decision which screams 'bad choice' to the ever watchful audience, they forgo a simple flight home in favour of the famous 8000 km rail journey through the snowlocked Russian wastes. Hence the title of the film.

What results is billed as a twisty action thriller, with multilayered secrets and lies and the familiar device of a claustrophobic location surrounded by scenic wilderness. This may not sound particularly original but, done well, it could amount to an enjoyable few hours of escapism. And, in fairness to the film, it starts well – meandering slowly through the mystery laden landscape of character development, planting seeds of murky histories and maintaining a convincing sense of unease and displacement – 2 American tourists in the time warp of undeveloped Russia. Events occur in a fashion that makes sense, uncomfortable situations get steadily worse and, around the time Ben Kingsley shows up as a Russian detective, everything seems on a wonderfully dramatic collision course with the revelations of the final act.

But then the 'twists' begin. Not twists in the normal thriller sense of the word but closer to the M Night Shyamalan meaning ie: twists that spoil a perfectly watchable film. The final act of Transsiberian dispels any sense of tension and unease by blowing the films internal logic to smithereens. I'm not suggesting for a second that the follies here are on the level of the denouement of Signs (or the entirety of Lady in the Water), but they do manage to bring the films momentum to a halt. Both The Machinist and Session 9 had problems with their endings, Anderson seems to believe that if everything doesn't reach an overedited fever pitch he isn't doing his job correctly. This is a shame as the deliberate but inexorable pacing of the plot was one of the films strong points.

Ultimately, Transsiberian is a missed opportunity. Some good performances and impressive cinematography are not enough to smooth over the eccentricities of the final act. It cannot maintain the tension well enough to be a thriller but is too mild to fall into the category of suspense/horror. If it is a drama about the fate of foreigners abroad then why does it descend into near Outer Limits territory towards the ending? Brad Anderson may well have potential as a talented filmmaker but so long as he continues to make films which are only halfway effective he will remain in that halfway obscure list of directors-you-have-to-look-up-on-IMDb.

Loved this movie and wonder why it was so under-marketed. I went to see it because I actually took the Trans-Siberian train this summer and so of course this movie intrigued me. (Luckily my trip was not so eventful!) While of course the movie was more personal for me since I could really relate to a lot of the scenes about life on the train and in the stations, this movie will appeal to anyone who likes a good mystery. This movie keeps you on the edge of your seat and is really well-done. And it definitely captures the current political and social climate of Russia today. Having dealt with the border guards in Siberia (over a visa problem) I witnessed first hand the 'wild west' mentality that currently exists in that country. It may be hard for Americans to believe that the events that occur in this movie are realistic. But they are. And Woody Harrelson is a revelation. Ben Kingsley is great as always. I was not familiar with Emily Mortimer prior to this film but I will be on the lookout for her next film. It's a shame not many people will see this movie. Hopefully they'll catch it on pay per view. Highly recommended.

This movie could have been a brilliant one but falls short due to over simplification.Roy and Jessie are an American couple on board the transsiberian train from beijing to moscow.This particular route has its fair share of crime with drug transfers via 'mules'(innocent looking people transferring drugs from one location to the other)being rampant.A Spanish hombre Carlos and his American girlfriend Abby become the compartment mates of Roy and Jessie.And the darkness builds up on the white snow...

Emily Mortimer is splendid as Jessie,an amateur photographer, with a wild past.She is a good wife,but irrational and confused sometimes, unwillingly giving way to her wild side through her inherent goodness.Eduardo Noriega (Carlos) is enigmatic as the Macho,Attractive yet Impolite Spaniard,with a sense of danger lurking in his eyes.His pushy side, while repelling for a sedate person, draws adventurous individuals towards him like a magnet.Woody Harrelson ( Roy ) and Kate Mara ( Abby ) do not have enough screen time.However Ben KIngsley delivers an outstanding cameo as Russian narcotics division detective Grinko.

The Russian cold is captured effectively, the screenplay is taut, the camera captures the vivid icy desolation of Russia with some haunting imagery.These are the things that work for the movie.

However, this is not a Whoddunit movie and the Agatha Christie genre of the Orient Express should not be brought into consideration here.The movie focuses on select individuals and is definitely thrilling.The ending is over-contrived and somewhat ludicrous and spoils the building up of tension.The movie never grips the audience,but due to its overall quality definitely worth watching.

2008 Sundance Film Festival ★ ★ ★ ★ (out of four)

My favorite movie from the first day of Sundance 2008. Roy (a very young-looking Woody Harrelson) and Jessie (Emily Mortimer) are a young Iowa couple, returning from a church humanitarian mission in China via the Transsiberian Express, where they encounter the much more adventurous Carlos (Eduardo Noriega) and Abby (Kate Mara). Boarding mid-way is Ben Kingsley, who we have learned from the opening scene is a Moscow police detective.

Like a Hitchcock classic, we are grabbed from the start with a feeling that things are not all as they seem, and don't lose that uneasy feeling that something very bad is going to happen until bad things really start happening. The tension is eerie and relentless, with telling glances and social conversation that suggest the relationships between these four are going to take a disturbing turn. Written by Director Brad Anderson (The Machinist), and inspired by a Transibberian trip he once took, the script is inspired and very tight, the characters infused with extraordinary depth and interest, the Russian state a harrowing umbrella and the dialog consistently powerful and compelling. (My favorite line, from Ben Kingsley, goes something like this: "We have a saying in Russia: You can always go forward with a lie, but you can never go back.")

As Anderson said in the Q&A, the confined spaces of trains make for heightened drama. Shot in Lithuania, the cinematography is haunting, capturing the mysterious, bleak and unsettled state of post-Soviet Russia, which makes for a marvelous backdrop to the action.

This movie should do well in national release. Maybe very well.

Sundance Moments: Brad Anderson and all the principals of the cast were at the Sundance premiere. More so than usual, they all praised Anderson as an extraordinary and meticulous director, one of the greats. Ben Kingsley noted that what attracted him to the movie, besides the Russian sub-story, was that the characters were archetypes and not caricatures, which is quite true. Anderson talked about how bitterly cold it was shooting in Lithuania.

This nail-biting film packs mystery , plot twists , violence , suspense in a dark atmosphere with imposing tension and intrigue . It deals with a Trans-Siberian train (at eight days, the Transsiberian Express from Beijing to Moscow is the world's longest train journey) voyage from China to Moscow becomes a thrilling chase of deception and murder when an American couple (Woody Harrelson , Emily Mortimer who can speak Russian in real life) encounters a mysterious pair (Eduardo Noriega , Kate Mara) of fellow travelers . Meanwhile , a narcotics inspector (Ben Kingsley was director Brad Anderson's first choice for the role) is investigating a drug smuggling .

Intriguing film contains thrills , chills , suspense , twists and turns , and results to be quite entertaining . The atmosphere and perverse intrigue enhance as well as the relationship among two couples develops . The picture was partly inspired from director Brad Anderson's youth when he did in fact ride the Transsiberian Express . Among the references that Brad Anderson drew on were the films North by Northwest , Strangers in a train , The lady vanishes , Runaway train , Dead calm and the book "Crime and Punishment" . Transsiberian had the misfortune of opening on the same weekend as Dark Knight , the second biggest film in history. The real starring Emily Mortimer is acceptable as a depressed and former ¨bad girl¨ who leads herself a madness spiral and killing , Eduardo Noriega is pretty good as a suspicious young with dark secrets ; both of whom play two gloomy characters . Furthermore , top-notch Ben Kingsley as a tough Police Inspector and brief acting by German Thomas Kretschmann as Kolzak . Xavi Gimenez cinematography is excellent creating a frightening and scary atmosphere , he's expert on sombre photography (Fragile , Intact , Nameless) , being stunningly shot on location in China , Vilnius , Lithuania and Russia . Mesmerizing and intriguing musical score by Alfonso Villalonga (My life without me , Snow white , Princesses) . The flick was finely produced by the chairman of Filmax Productions , Julio Fernandez along with his brother Carlos Fernandez as executive producer , they're two successful producers and experts on terror genre , producing a lot of hits , such as ¨The machinist¨, ¨Rec ¨1¨, 2¨ and ¨3¨ , ¨Fragiles¨, ¨Darkness¨, ¨El perfume¨ , ¨The nun¨ , ¨Backwoods¨ and many others .

The motion picture was well written and directed by Brad Anderson . He is a good filmmaker who has directed thought-provoking and thrilling films such as ¨Happy accidents¨ , ¨Session 9¨ , ¨The machinist¨ , and ¨The call¨ his last film starred by Halle Berry . Transsiberian , rating : Good and above average, it's one the highest earning suspense picture of the last years ; it is an astounding film with tension , blood, shocks and violence .

The movie is set in a somewhat unusual environment (geographically speaking), which, in my opinion, is nice. In the movie you'll see several clichés typical for a thriller, with being able to predict most stuff in the film along the way. As said, the movie doesn't have much new really, but the fact that it's set (mostly) on a train in the middle of nowhere managed to give me the feeling that this was something new, and exciting.

Also typical for these kind of movies was the stereotypical view upon Russians, and foreign (non-american) people overall. The two polite and innocent Americans can't even ask the train staff why the toilet isn't functioning without getting shouted at in Russian. On top of this the police are told to be brutal and corrupt. But then this contributes to the feeling one gets while watching the movie, that the two Americans feels lost and insecure, and that they are in the hands of careless strangers who they can't even communicate with. I just wish they would have done this in some other way, without having to rely on silly stereotypes.

Even though the end was quite predictable, I liked it, along with the rest of the movie. Overall this movie is worth the time spent seeing it, and more.

I recently saw 'Session 9' and was so impressed with it I decided to check out some of writer/director Brad Anderson's other work, starting with 'Transsiberian'. The synopsis sounded interesting enough and it had an impressive cast, so i thought it would be a good place to start. Sadly, it wasn't up to the same standard as 'Session 9'. It wasn't a horror movie obviously, so some change was to be expected, but the problem was it lacked all the same brilliance in the mystery department that that film managed to achieve. There was enough going on here, yet it all felt very bland and run-of-the-mill. It felt like something we have seen 100 times before, whereas 'Session 9' felt completely unique, fresh and exhilarating.

The characters were very bland (intentionally, I suspect) which made things realistic, but boring at the same time. So then it falls on the story to carry the load. Unfortunately, the story was very predictable and bland itself at times. I kept hoping all wasn't as it seemed, and that we were going to be hit with a twist out of left field that we never saw coming. It was not to be though and everything that I suspected was coming, eventually came - it just took a while to get there.

It wasn't all bad though. The acting, as you'd anticipate with such a strong cast, was excellent from all concerned. It's also a beautifully shot film. A lot of the scenery is quite beautiful and never lets you forget the harsh environment this film is set in. Anderson seems to have a real talent for having great cinematography and settings in his films. At the end of the day though these factors aren't enough to keep this from being anything more than just you average and rather forgettable thriller.

First, let me readily admit that while I used to be quite the cinephile, in recent years my tastes have sunk to the extreme lowbrow. My wife and I went to see Transsiberian as part of a date I took her on for her birthday. The occasion was the only reason I didn't (seriously, anyway) suggest that we go see Quarantine or the premier of Saw V instead of Transsiberian. Yes, I've sunk pretty low... :) However, especially in hindsight, I enjoyed the movie much more than I had expected to. As others have noted, there are many direct references to Hitchcock themes and techniques, and the first half of the movie builds quite slowly in order to establish the characters - which is done very well, even considering the necessary mystery surrounding a couple of the principals.

After a key series of rapid events occurs roughly midway through the film, the tension immediately ratchets up to a very thrilling level. Without spoiling anything, there are close-quarters cat-and-mouse movements on the train that are very effectively nail-biting.

I wasn't familiar with many of the female cast, nor the darkly charming Spaniard, but performances were solid all around. Woody Harrelson likely didn't have to put a huge amount of effort or training into his goofy, naive American, but Ben Kingsley, to me, absolutely made the movie with his role (again - no spoilers - see for yourself).

I disagree with other commentators about the ending leaving too much plot unexplained. It seemed to me like things were tied up quite well. The denouement is maybe almost too-quick, but I still didn't feel there were open questions to any negative effect on my opinion of the movie.

I had heard little about this film before watching it, apart from the cast that included the wonderful Ben Kingsley as well as Emily Mortimer and Woody Harrelson. Who each added a great depth to their respective characters making for compelling viewing. The blend of great actors and natural dialogue makes for an emotive and visceral experience.

Brad Anderson has made a well paced thriller that explores the vast emptiness and deprived parts of Russia, and at the same time in contrast capturing the beautiful scenic landscape, as the characters delve deeper into the twisting roads of the narrative. Other than The Machinist (2004) I was unfamiliar with his work but will probably lookout for upcoming features as he has shown great competency in both the writing and direction of this film. Balancing the dramatic aspects of the narrative with the overall film.

The most important thing to note is that it is an independently produced film, which means it is free from the constraints of the mainstream but unfortunately this may mean that it falls through the net as independent films are often unable to compete with the marketing capacity of studio productions. As a result this film will probably not receive a nation wide release across UK cinemas, which is a shame.

This film is great watch with a solid narrative structure and with honest performances from all actors involved, hopefully you'll find Transsiberian a worthwhile watch as I did.

Can't tell you how much I enjoyed this picture. It's very deceptive, as it starts off slowly and takes a while to get going, and could use additional editing. Resist the urge to give up on it and pop it out of your DVD player, as the second half is exciting and fast-paced.

The first half is a lazy talking picture which is not indicative of the nasty turn matters take at the midway point. A married couple leave a health seminar in Beijing and board the Transsiberian express for Moscow. They befriend another couple on the train, unaware they are drug mules. Woody Harrelson plays the husband in his patented good-natured doofus manner, but Emily Mortimer gives an excellent nuanced performance as his wife. Ben Kingsley also gives a strong performance as a Russian Detective.

I don't feel contributors to the website did right by this picture as it is better than our present rating. The only complaint could be that it is a tad long due to the slow start but acting, direction, plot, production values and especially photography are all above reproach.

Great actors, a nice thriller plot, what else does someone need. I guess not much more. But to me the special something "ingredient" is missing. I can't point out what it is, but it feels like something special is missing to make this really special.

While it starts off traditionally, it takes a few turns and twists that you might entirely expect. Which is a good thing, but can also confuse a few people. Of course when characters start acting implausibly, you might start shaking your head in disbelief. Even more so when it turns out that some outrageous decisions were made rightfully so (as the plot starts to point out later).

If you can suspend your disbelief, you might and will enjoy it. If not, than this might turn out to be torture after half the movie is over.

Just screened this great film at Sundance 2008 and came away very pleased with the experience. It appears that Director Brad Anderson has successfully created a modern thriller worthy of attention. The backdrop of this film is the wondrous Transsiberian Express railway which in itself makes this completely watchable and makes for fantastic cinematography. The story takes us along the railway with Jesse (Emily Mortimer) and Roy (Woody) who are taking the trek as an adventure after a stint in China. The two Americans find themselves befriended by a young couple Carlos and Amby (I think thats her name,the character was played by Kate Mara) who themselves are traveling around Russia. After some time together an awkward friendship forms between Jesse and Carlos who has several different motives. As the train keeps pushing across the frozen tundra some situations occur that separate the newfound friends and places certain individuals in compromising positions that ultimately result in some stressful events. Russian narcotics officer Grinko (Kingsley) arrives just in time to really make things chaotic and turn the train ride into a thrill ride. Jesse finds herself pushing and pulling between dealing with the truth and what it will take to survive the train trip home.

First of all whether one loves the plot or not, its hard to deny the fantastic cinematography that takes place throughout the film. The train sequences inside are so authentic that one can truly feel the atmosphere breathing. Overall the whole film just feels authentic to the locations and the people who wander in and out of the film are completely genuine. Superb performances by all, just really good stuff from actors you would expect it from. Plot runs a little weaker towards the end and inevitably its somewhat predictable as most thrillers are, but with the train and the location its a enough of a twist to keep viewers interested. Flick definitely should appeal more to mainstream audiences then the typical indie sorts, so buzz might be a bit weak on the indie circuit but this movie should have decent release interest and definitely get good views on video and cable when people give it a chance.

The first 2/3 of Transsiberian is a pretty interesting film. We follow two Americans as they travel from China to Moscow on a famous rail line from the cold war era. The images of life on the train transport you to an old Soviet style of life that can be downright claustrophobic. I am willing to forgive Woody Harrelson's "Aww Shucks" country performance as he gushes in every scene about how "neat" something is. Soon the couple is sharing their cabin with a mysterious Spaniard and American couple, that just ooze intrigue. Hints are dropped about corrupt police and drug dealers as we see the two couples interact. The makings for a pretty good film are firmly established. However, at about the 2/3 mark, the director decides he is just going to fall back and make a clichéd Hollywood action movie. I was rubbing my eyes in disbelief, as I thought I was viewing a different movie. We get standard chases, standard switches and the prettiest bow that has ever been tied on a present. Everything gets wrapped up neatly and happily, which is too bad and too simple. The images of Siberia are beautiful and make for a good show, it is too bad that the director could not close the show.

If you believe Americans deserve a happy ending because even if they're stupid, they're true believers, and they're on the right side of moral values-- then you can stomach the twists and turns of the plot. After all, it started off with potential. It's got honest-to-goodness Russian scenery on a real Russian train. Yes, there probably is international narcobusiness on the Transsiberian, corrupt police, rude conductors. But it's all a bit over the top.

There are very good actors. Ben Kingsley is above reproach. Woody Harrelson is right on target as an oafish Iowan abroad. But why would his wife spill out her story to a stranger on a train if it were not that the screenplay needed enough back-story for an implausible relationship? And isn't it suspicious that the Spanish hunk is the evil tempter, ergo the only character responsible for his misdeeds? And violent torture is the specialty of the Russian mob, so even when they realize they're dealing with mere dupes, they must literally extract their pound of flesh?

"Transsiberian" is, in my opinion, one of the best thrillers and suspense movies that have hit the big screen in the recent years. It's got it all to grip and keep the viewer firmly glued to the seat until the final credits start to roll -because there is a story to tell until that very moment.

The movie follows American couple Roy (Woody Harrelson) and Jesse (wonderful Emily Mortimer), who have gone to China to help their church and decide to return on the Transsiberian line across said part of Russia. But they're in for more than they bargained for when they meet the mysterious young couple made up by Carlos (Eduardo Noriega) and Abby (Kate Mara), and nasty surprises begin to come up...

"Transsiberian" is one of those movies which, based on a simple script and just a handful of characters, always manage to surprise the viewer or, at least, keep them interested and guessing -and you probably won't always be able to guess correctly, because there are enough u-turns and red herrings to keep your interest always up. All of the above is enhanced and delivered by a cast in a state of grace -like I said, Emily Mortimer is superb as the main character, a loyal wife and church-goer who, nevertheless, has her own skeletons in the cupboard; but Harrelson, Noriega, Mara, and Ben Kingsley all offer remarkable performances and bring their characters to life, lending them enormous credibility and individuality as nuanced characters, neither all good nor all bad. Not to miss are also the locations, and the train itself, with its ample gallery of peoples from different parts of the world. It is interesting to note that those characters, who seem to have been put there for purposes of adding color and realism to the story, look neutral, picturesque or even funny at first, but suddenly acquire more threatening and somber shadows as the tone of the narration turns more tense and suspenseful and things begin to go wrong for our protagonists.

There is more to "Transsiberian" that is worthy of note, and I vividly recommend this movie to any fan of suspense stories with lots of action and psychological insight.