Countdown to Oscars 2026
Train Dreams (2025) – 8/10 – A poetic call to realism
Overall
Train Dreams is a fascinating historical drama adaptation of a 2011 fictional novella of the same name by Denis Johnson. Most of the events unfold in the early twentieth century until 1968 and appear genuine. I struggle to explain Train Dreams because it’s unlike most movies. Rather than following traditional Hollywood plot structures, it delves into a reflective exploration of the human condition. Life’s essence lies not in events themselves, but in how we process them post-event and what we take from each encounter. The style here isn’t revolutionary (Italian neo-realism came first), but it’s refreshing to witness done well. In director Clint Bentley, one can perceive echoes of past giants Roberto Rossellini, Ingmar Bergman, Jean-Luc Godard, and Satyajit Ray. This covers themes including loneliness, acceptance, growth, loss, pain, and time. This nostalgic movie touches on every emotion, and prioritizes sentiment over plot or high-energy action. Oscar nominations include Best Cinematography, Best Original Song, Best Picture, and Best Adapted Screenplay. I see it in the running for each except Best Picture.
Would I recommend this?
Yes, I recommend this, though it may not be for everyone. I understand many will find this dull or depressing, especially the slow progression. Much like poetry, the messages and themes subtly weave into the story and require thoughtful consideration. Despite its abstract nature, I sense it resonates with everyone at some stage. The passage of life and time, the people we encounter, and our formed memories carry something poignant in their grasp. My rating is 8/10.
Plot (spoiler-free)
Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a logger and railroad worker, lives on the frontier for 80 years, from 1888 to 1968. His melancholic world began alone in orphanhood and ended alone in seclusion. Between the two points, he experiences growth, change, loss, and time. People enter and exit his life, including Gladys Olding (Felicity Jones), but he carries himself as a simple man with dignity. The world transformed around him from a natural frontier to modern technology, and we witness that shift from his perspective.
Technicals
Train Dreams doesn’t come across as a typical period drama. The style, presentation, and narration are reminiscent of a documentary more than the usual movie. The best aspects are the authentic atmosphere, acting, direction, the cinematography, visuals, script, and the soundtrack. Raw and introspective are the best ways to define the experience. The performance by Edgerton, Felicity Jones, and the rest of the cast is excellent. Cinematography and photography focus on nature, society, people, and thoughtful intricacies like meditation. Music, dialogue-less visual scenes, and landscapes do a wonderful job of helping audiences absorb what they depict. Ultimately, the movie concerns everything that makes us human but doesn’t leave us with answers. This encourages you to connect and empathize with Grainier thematically without telling you how to live. It’s impressive that the entire production process wrapped up in just 29 days. As for issues, the pacing felt super slow and occasionally lost my attention. It’s not always easy to stay present throughout. Second, I think it could use more events, but I’m uncertain what else they could add. This isn’t the typical Hollywood work, so that makes it challenging.
*Obtained trivia facts from IMDb’s trivia page and plot/basic history/name information from Wiki
