Train Dreams (2025) Movie Review

Train Dreams – Movie Review

First Reaction – Train Dreams is a moving journey through the changes in life.

Director: Clint Bentley

Writer: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar (Screenplay)

Writer: Denis Johnson (Novella)

Cast

  • Joel Edgerton (The Gift)
  • Felicity Jones (The Brutalist)
  • William H Macy (Running Man)
  • Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin)

Train Dreams tells the touching story of Robert Grainier, a logger and railroad worker whose life, though simple, is full of beauty and meaning as America transforms in the early 1900s.

Runtime: 1 Hour 42 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Train Dreams follows Robert Grainier (played by Edgerton) as he attempts to build a life for himself in the American West, working as both a logger and on the railroad. He also marries Gladys (Jones) and starts a family.

Robert is hoping to find a job near his home, a change that would offer his family a better future. But then a terrible event occurs, leaving him alone and uncertain about everything he’d hoped for.

Verdict on Train Dreams

Recap

This film tells the story of a man working as a logger and on the railroad, as he tries to build a life for himself in a rapidly changing America. But his plans are disrupted, and he finds himself adrift, searching for meaning and direction.

Best Parts

As a movie fan, I was really struck by how this film used the idea of the American dream to show the sacrifices people made building this country. It’s a deeply emotional story about a man who starts to doubt everything he’s worked towards. The acting is fantastic – it really drives the narrative, even though it’s a pretty tough watch. What really stood out to me was how powerfully it depicted a life changing so rapidly, and how hard it was for society to adapt.

Worst Parts

Unfortunately, this story is a familiar one about the American Dream and doesn’t offer anything new or surprising.

Final ThoughtsTrain Dreams is a moving, emotional journey.

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2025-11-21 15:38