Man on the Train

When a Robber(Larry Mullen Jr.) arrives in a small town, the VERY talkative and lonely Professor (Donald Sutherland) meets him and begins talking with the very quiet and emotionally constricted man. It's very awkward but soon the Robber finds he cannot find a room, as the local hotel is closed. The Professor is happy to invite the man to stay with him a few days and during the course of the stay, the Professor talks and talks and talks...mostly about how boring his life is and his many regrets. As for the Robber, he mostly just listens and talks little. Oddly, over time it becomes clear that each admires the other's life.

The story is simple and the film VERY low-key...so much so that I can understand why many reviewers seem turned off by the movie. I also thought the soundtrack (by Mullen) has decent aspects but at times it sounds very repetitive and needed more life...just like the story. Now I am not saying it's bad...but everything is super low energy and could have used an infusion of life. This is an aspect of the story you'll either love or hate, as I noticed reviewers were very widely divergent...either hating or loving the film.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie because it was different...but it also felt like an interesting experiment that just didn't work. A nice try...but nothing more.

I had no idea what to expect - I was sitting around checking out the new cable TV offerings and this came up. I was immediately caught up in this wacky little story (the path not taken, trading places, etc.). It's very low key for sure but that's a refreshing change of pace as far as I am concerned. The professor was a bit overly quirky (the nutty professor?) but still, if you accept it, it makes the movie that much more enjoyable.

I did not know that the "thief" was a U2 member - and I am glad I didn't know - I may have pre-judged the performance. I thought he was terrific - his character had fewer lines than Southerland but he definitely has an on screen presence that is engaging (I thought he must be some stage actor transitioning to movies because I'd never seen him before and I do see a lot of movies).

I am surprised to see negative reviews. Yes, the ending was a bit confusing but then it all comes together. One of the more interesting movies I've seen in a quite a while. Worth watching for sure.

I had no idea who Larry Mullen Jr was before I watched this movie but I thought he was great. He should have taken up acting years ago. Too busy being the drummer for U2 I guess. Donald Sutherland was good too. I liked the literary references, such a refreshing change to see in a movie. EE Cummings, Bukowsky, Henry James. Hey who doesn't love Henry James? Just joking, probably only me and a few academics. The idea of wishing you had lived someone else's life is intriguing and was handled well. The Professor talks a lot about the choices he has made in his life. The other man (Mullen) doesn't talk about his choices but we can guess what they were. Wish someone would explain the ending though. I liked the ending, just didn't understand it. It was also a very funny movie and had lots of levels, definitely going to be mulling this one over for a few days.

Donald Sutherland is a retired professor of poetry living alone in a large Victorian house, listening to Schubert in most of his spare time. He meets a stranger, played by Larry Mullen, Jr.(yes, it is the drummer of the Irish rock band U2), a criminal type who is the complete opposite of the professor.

Mr. Mullen can definitely give up his day job, he is the cinematic acting discovery of the year. His style is that of James Dean in "Rebel Without A Cause" or Martin Sheen in "Badlands," and he matches the veteran Sutherland in scene after scene. The two are terrific together. Mullen possesses a natural, charismatic charm.

A major problem is the soundtrack, which frequently features a piano in the background at a volume clashing with the actors' lines; at times I was wishing for subtitles.

The professor and the stranger with no name ponder each others lives, contemplating the paths they have chosen, a universal theme we can all relate to. The two leads keep it moving along and make it worthwhile.

I didn't know how to rate this one. For the first 120 min it is excellent. Interesting music, excellent direction, wonderful cast--Donald Sutherland is in top form, nuanced yet clear, perfectly in character. But then came the ending, or perhaps three endings? Fatuous, pretentious, pseudo-"deep," just appallingly bad. I hated it that such great material and worksmanship should end up as such a train wreck. This director showed such wonderful talent, it's a shame she fell for such really bad end writing. She deserved better and should have known better. I look forward to her other work.