'Unstoppable'

'Unstoppable' (PG-13) (3 1/2 stars)

Writer: Mark Bomback
Director: Tony Scott
Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson, Kevin Dunn, Ethan Suplee, Lew Temple, TJ Miller, Kevin Corrigan, Kevin Chapman

"Unstoppable" is a fast, clean, exciting and tense action thriller. There is little exposition or talk and a lot of action. It goes straight into the chase as a runaway train is on the path to destruction. It also has the benefit of having an actor like Denzel Washington starring in it. Other than Tom Hanks and George Clooney no one puts you at ease more than Washington does. He makes us care for the story because he plays the every man character better than anyone. That is what he does here as a train engineer who with the help of a young train conductor try to stop a runaway train. Chris Pine (Star Trek) plays the conductor and he is a bright young actor with star potential who has a nice camaraderie with Denzel. Supposedly based on true events, "Unstoppable" concerns a train that is unmanned due to an error by a very dumb employee. The half mile train has on board toxic materials and is headed to a major city. Washington and Pine have to try to catch the train, latch on to it and slow it down. Back at the control station the manager, played by Rosario Dawson (arguably the most beautiful woman in the World)tries to come up with her own solution.

The movie introduces us to the characters after the train is in motion so we don't have to stop for long speeches. Each character has baggage but their situations are dealt with quickly with little dialogue. We also don't get too may distracting characters like in most action movies who take away from the action or the heroes. We are focused on Washington and Pine and their characters who are just trying to do their job. Tony Scott's direction might be the best of his career in a long line of action movies. There are some amazing stunts and great thrilling moments when the leads have to climb outside to try to latch the two trains together. I was also impressed that the news coverage of the train incident is seriously done and believable. This is a thrilling, fun and exciting action movie, one of the best of the year. It also has a star in Denzel Washington who just makes you feel comfortable, makes you want to follow him on this joyride.