Transsiberian is easily one of the most overlooked movies of the year. Brad Anderson's successful picture is one of the best so far. It is minimalist and very well paced. Hitchcock would be very happy with it.
Transsiberian is about the Transsiberian railway that goes from Beijing to Moscow over the course of a week. The plot is hard to explain without spoiling things, but here it goes: an American couple whose marriage is currently on the rocks decides to take the train to Moscow. On the train, they meet another mysterious American couple. Some of the things about them just don't seem right. Ben Kingsley co-stars as a police detective who plays a major role in the second hour.
The film is, as I've already said, well paced, but many audiences will lose patience after the first hour. Honestly, even though it held my attention, the first half is pretty much plotless. It revolves around barely anything. On the other hand, the second half comes at you really fast and won't let your eyes leave the screen.
Brad Anderson's direction finds beauty in Russia, which is something that isn't easy to do. The many shots of the snowcapped mountains are easy on the eyes and fun to watch. In one clever shot, a horse is running in a circle next to a broken shack. All of a sudden, the train rushes by. The shot is unusual and the composition is perfect.
Despite it's many plot flaws towards the end, Transsiberian is one hell of a thriller. Even though the first hour is slow, the rest is action at full throttle. Combine a minimalist story and good direction and you've got yourself a great Brad Anderson film.
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