Unstoppable (www.the-usher.com)

"This ain't training. In training they just give you an F. Out here you get killed."

For Will (Pine) this was going to be just another day on the job but as tensions raised between the new conductors and the old guard engineers like his new partner for the day Frank (Washington), the planned layoffs were affecting everyone who worked for the Railroad company. This was a day that would change everything however, as an engine pulling hazardous chemicals travelled unmanned towards the city of Stanton, manager Connie (Dawson) needed everyone to pull together to prevent a disaster as the train was ninety minutes away from crashing.

When it comes to telling true stories on the big screen every film is plagued with the problem of the predictable ending but can ‘Unstoppable’ keep you enthralled until the end?

Mention director Tony Scott and his ever-present star Denzel Washington and you have a match that usually delivers at the box office. Having already delivered ‘Crimson Tide’, ‘Man on Fire’, ‘Déjà vu’ and ‘The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3’, Scott and Washington come together again to bring us the true story of a runaway train. What they usually deliver is a high-octane, visual spectacle with Washington eating up the screen but without much in the way of plot. Tackling a true story makes this a little different however.

Inspired by an incident that took place in 2001, the film tells the story of AWVR locomotive #777 and how, through a series of mishaps and human errors, the chemical freight train was left unmanned and accelerating towards the city of Stanton. With numerous failed attempts to slow it down and even board it to regain control, it is up to seasoned driver Frank Barnes and rookie conductor Will Colson to chase #777 down with their train and then figure out a way of stopping it. With tension building throughout, the story and characters do just enough to keep you engaged but, as with all true stories, you can predict the outcome even when the filmmakers have taken a few liberties with the story along the track.

When Tony Scott and Denzel Washington work together, they usually bring in a star for Denzel to play off against and for ‘Unstoppable’ it is the turn of Chris Pine. After becoming a superstar when he took over the role of James T. Kirk from William Shatner in the reboot of ‘Star Trek’, Chris Pine gets his chance to shine again and more than holds his own against the icon that is Denzel. As Will Colson, he brings some realism to the role of the man struggling to makes ends meet, provide for his broken family and fit in as a rookie at the train company. With Denzel eating up the screen as the experienced and soon to be forcefully retired Frank Barnes, this is no mean task. There is also amble support from Rosario Dawson as Yardmaster Connie Hooper and Kevin Dunn as AWVR vice-president, who is more worried about the company’s profits than the safety of the people of Stanton.

‘Unstoppable’ is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the inevitable ending. With good performances from Washington and Pine and a decent supporting cast, the train might be ‘Stoppable’ in the end but you’ll enjoy the journey getting there.

UNSTOPPABLE Blu-ray Special Features

Derailed: Anatomy of a Scene
Hanging Off the Train: Stunt Work
On the Rails with the Director and Cast
The Fastest Track: Unleashing Unstoppable
Director Commentary Track
Tracking the Story: Unstoppable Script Development

UNSTOPPABLE DVD Special Features

Director Commentary Track
Tracking the Story: Unstoppable Script Development

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2010