Expresso Transiberiano

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.

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?

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

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 .