Families can be Unstoppable

family matters isn't the main plot in Unstoppable, but it is placed on the back-burner even though it is one of the most important story lines in director tony scott's film.  there must be a reason i like Unstoppable, other than the fact that tony scott also directed possibly my favorite movie of all time, Top Gun.  scott has not lost that lovin' feeling or the need for speed in his über-intense action films.

inspired by a true story in stanton, upstate pennsylvania, Unstoppable stars film veteran denzel washington and up-and-coming newbie chris pine.  washington was his usual spectacular self portraying an old engineer frank who has been given his 90-day notice and pine was the perfect choice for will, a young conductor who bears a big name in the train industry.  paired together, the two stars complimented each other quite well.

72 days into the 90-day notice before frank is forced to retire or quit, two boneheads at the train yard mishandle a half-mile long train.  mishandle is grossly understated due to the fact that the "coaster" turns into a full speed freight train carrying toxic chemicals.  the scary part is, it's headed toward an elevated s-curve in the industrial parts of stanton, near will's home.frank and will take it upon themselves to risk everything in life (and their own) to chase after the train known as "the beast."

that's the main plot.  throughout the film, will finds himself losing a battle with his wife in a case of miscommunication.  he thought his wife was in danger of cheating on him with a guy who had the hots for her in high school.  turns out that guy is a cop and will ends up punching him.  will is served up with a not so tasty dish in the form of a restraining order.  its been weeks since will has talked to his wife, and he's trying to say he's sorry.

frank has his own family problems.  since his wife died, it seems he's been fading from the lives of his daughter, forgetting one's birthday.

both men's family problems connect with many americans today.  with society placing a decreased importance of the family, scott does a tremendous job taking real life problems and placing the family unit on the pedestal.  no matter how big or small the problems are within the family, love and patience eventually leads to forgiveness.  the stronger the bond, the less likely the family will fall apart.  excellent job mr. scott.

the film does not leave room for character development like other hollywood films.  what you see is what you get.  and audiences see something far more realistic, tangible and relate to perhaps their own personal lives.  even if audiences can only imagine the train sequences, they can understand what the two men, a grisly engineer vet and the young ambitious conductor, are going through.

i give this film 4 stars out of 5 for a job well done.