This is the ‘popcorn flick’ of the fall season.  Director Tony Scott has crafted an intense (and at times, dramatic) thrill ride for audiences.  I truly question why this film wasn’t released in the summer;  it has such a seasonal feel to it.  It combines vivid action sequences, a family element, and a rollercoaster of events designed to rattle your senses.  It’s even educational – throwing insight into the topographic layout of the Pennsylvania railways and rail car functionality.  

Based in rural southern Pennsylvania railroad country, the film follows the inaugural training day of conductor Chris Colson (Chris Pine) with his mentor Frank Barnes (Denzel Washington).   Unbeknownst to them, a train has left an alternate station unmanned and is careening at high speed into a bevy of populated areas not to mention on a crash-course towards them.  To further complicate matters, it has no air brakes and is toting a load of toxic chemicals which could vaporize an entire population.  Resigning to stop this runaway, Barnes and Colson use another train in an attempt to catch the coasting locomotive and slow it down or stop it before it reaches speeds too unstable to keep it on the track and potentially derail in a densely populated area. 

It sounds like a recipe for disaster no matter how you slice it.  Even if a railcar could catch up to a speeding train carrying twenty plus cars, how could they possible expect to slow it down or bring it to a halt?  No spoilers here but believe me when I say you’ll be gasping a few sighs of relief throughout the film.  Director Tony Scott (True Romance) is no stranger to this genre having piloted some of the biggest action thrillers in the past twenty years (and quite a few starring Denzel).  From ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Days of Thunder’, to ‘Crimson Tide’ and ‘Man On Fire’, he has shown his mettle to produce slick and energetic thrillers.  Denzel Washington (A Soldier’s Story) is cast so well as Frank Barnes, a 30 year veteran of the railway company.  As an older railway worker he wrestles with the influx of new younger guys that are a part of a corporate plan to replenish the ranks.  Rather than being jaded towards young Will Colson, his dialogue embraces and supports the character as a mentor should.  Denzel’s natural chemistry with actors flows so nicely in their on-screen relationship that you can envision his leadership within the rail yard even though he’s simply a semi-laid off conductor on his way into forced retirement.  Chris Pine (2009’s Star Trek) is solidly cast as Colson, a young conductor whose life has just hit the skids due to an unfortunate civil action in his recent past.  Pine’s rugged looks and temperament really pull his performance through and the banter he and Denzel share on screen is poignant and one of camaraderie.  What sets their relationship apart from other buddy-hero films is you want these guys to succeed.  Short lapses in action pave the way for great background stories on each character and knowing their past makes you root for a positive outcome in their future. 

Supporting their efforts is an outstanding performance by Rosario Dawson (A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints) as Connie, the rail yard supervisor.  Stuck in a winless situation where her corporate counterparts stonewall her, and usurp her knowledge and authority to deal with the situation, she still manages to bring a strong and convincing character performance to the role.  You walk away with a wonderment of the profession of emergency management.  While the layman at the helm of such a corporate disaster would solely concentrate on wildly inventive ways to stop the train, her character and others in the profession are smart enough to look at the collateral concerns; additional trains on the track and securing rail crossings every few miles.  Call it a combination of good writing and great execution on her part, but she made the role and gave me a renewed interest in the job of emergency management.

It can’t all be ‘sunshine and roses’ for the film.  Dismay comes in the form of its portrayal of television coverage embedded in the film.  You’ll notice the TV news choppers are hovering over our heroes like the angel of death.  Constantly overbearing, and at times a downright nuisance, I’m sure these copters were providing fantastic TV coverage for those at home watching, but I found myself screaming for them to stop interfering with the characters efforts to stop the train.  The must have had the largest gas tanks in existence because they never once wavered off for a refuel and give Frank & Will a break.  One of the cool movie tricks in a Directors arsenal when portraying news coverage on screen is to secretly embed filming cameras in each news chopper to grab the high level footage needed for the actual film.  Its a perfect cover for shooting an action sequence once, but getting multiple angles in a single shoot.

This is what you pay for when you visit the megaplex.  An exciting, fast, tense film with characters you can feel for.  You’ll feel really good about the time spent when exiting.

4 Stars Out of 5

Unstoppable is rated PG-13 for sequences of action and peril, and some language. 

Atomic Popcorn is getting you ready for the winter season with some action to warm up your insides! Denzel, Chris and Rosario erupt in this action packed film from Tony Scott. Unstoppable is invading Baltimore on November 8th and here is your chance to see it before your friends do!

Synopsis:

Oscar-winner Denzel Washington and “Star Trek’s” Chris Pine team with action maestro Tony Scott in this non-stop thriller. A massive unmanned locomotive, nicknamed “The Beast” and loaded with toxic cargo, roars through the countryside, vaporizing anything put in front of it. A veteran engineer (Washington) and a young conductor (Pine), aboard another train in the runaway’s path, devise an incredible plan to try and stop it – and prevent certain disaster in a heavily populated area.

Cast:

Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson.

Trailer Below:

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Make sure you check out our other free screenings in the Baltimore Area.

Is it possible that I’m actually intrigued by Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief after this trailer?

Chris Columbus’ attempt to fill the upcoming Harry Potter film vacuum seemed rather derivative and vapid in it’s first teaser, but now that I’ve seen that leading actor Logan Lerman (3:10 to Yuma) has been surrounded by the likes of Rosario Dawson, Pierce Brosnan, and Sean Bean, my excitement has risen a bit.

The film also stars Catherine Keener, Steve Coogan, and Uma Thurman. It’s due for release on February 12th, 2010. Check out the trailer below, and let us know what you think in the comments!

Jumping on top of the heat of the recently released film Halloween 2, Rob Zombie comes out with The Haunted World of El Superbeasto. The animated flick stars the voice talents of Tom Papa, Rosario Dawson, Sheri Moon Zombie, Paul Giamatti and many more.

A massive, over-the-hill masked wrestler, El Superbeasto has more interest in exotic dancers than adventure. Despite his disinterest, however, he still manages to get involved with murderous super-intelligent gorillas, Liverpudlian zombies, and Dr. Satan – a manic-depressive mad scientist obsessed with finding the perfect woman. Throughout his unusual escapades, he is joined by his sister, Susie X, a sexy super spy adventurer, and her sidekick: a 10-foot tall robot named Marvin, who digs Barry Manilow and Michael Bolton.

Take a look at the red band trailer below:

If you want to see a little more of El Superbeasto, here’s an exclusive clip for you to see. The entire animated movie is available for viewing already OnDemand and on Pay-Per-View. The Haunted World of El Superbeasto will appear in theaters on September 12th along with a DVD and Blu-Ray release on September 22nd.

Dawson's ready to listen to the animals.

Rosario Dawson is locked up thanks to Happy Madison Productions and others in the female lead of the new romantic comedy, The Zookeeper. Currently Kevin James, recently known for being in surprise hit Paul Blart: Mall Cop, is already set to play the male lead along with Leslie Bibb as one of the supporting characters.

What is it about you might ask? The animals at one particular zoo decide to break their code of silence in order to help their lovable zookeeper gain the attention of one particular woman. At this point I expect for James to be playing the ukulele singing in chimpanzee. Kevin James, Jeff Sussman, Todd Garner and Jennifer Eatz are all taking full on responsibility by being producers for this flick. Kevin James, Jay Scherick, Rock Reuben, Nick Bakay and David Ronn all put together the script, now try to say their names ten times fast. Frank Coraci, director of Click and The Wedding Singer, will be sitting in the director’s chair.

Sony Pictures has revealed three brand new TV spots and photos from Seven Pounds, which stars Will Smith. Rosario Dawson and Woody Harrelson also starring in the movie.

Here is a little tidbit about the movie itself.

Ben (Will Smith) is an IRS agent who sets out on an extraordinary journey to make amends for a tragedy in his past. In the course of doing so he meets seven strangers including Emily (Rosario Dawson) and inadvertently falls in love with her, thereby complicating his plans. Woody Harrelson plays a blind pianist who befriends Ben.

Seven Pounds will hit theaters this coming December 19th of 2008.

The latest attempt at a web series comes from NBC and its new show, “Gemini Division”, which premiered on Monday, August 18, over at www.geminidivision.com, and stars Rosario Dawson, Justin Hartley (Smallville), and Kevin Alejandro (Ugly Betty).

“Gemini Division” is a female first-person confessional (Lonelygirl15-like) about biotech run wild. Rosario Dawson plays Anna Diaz, a New York City detective on a trip in Paris with her boyfriend (Justin Hartley), who seems to have something wrong with him.

What do you guys think about it? Not to shabby if I may say so myself.