Transsiberian (2008) 7/10

I love Brad Anderson's films. Session 9 is one of my all-time favorite films. The Machinist was great, and his entry in the Masters of Horror was easily one of the best. Needless to say I had high expectations for his newest film, Transsiberian.

Transsiberian is about an American couple taking the transsiberian railway that get mixed up with drug smuggling, murder, and Russian police.

Transsiberian is a subtle, tense, thriller that tries to put the audience in the shoes of some very naive and troubled people. The photography is stunning and the performances by Ben Kingsley and Woody Harrelson are amazing. Looks like Woody is finally back to playing a role that isn't an absolute scumbag, instead a sensitive nice guy. The pacing in the film is pretty slow going. Nothing really happens for the first 45 minutes or so. We spend that time getting to know the characters and what motivates them. The problem is that although I had the attention span for it, I feel that it wasn't necessary to for it to have been so long. When things start happening though the tension is so thick, i felt like i couldn't breathe. The problem is that the film doesn't go for the throat. I know that sounds bad but the film ends too nicely. Sure there's some really grisly interrogation scenes that will keep me out of Russia, but the climax doesn't top it. The film's intensity peaks before its final climax and it left me feeling a bit let down. Everything gets wrapped up neatly at the end of the film and I felt that it was just too clean and neat. A film like this should have ragged edges.

So, Transsiberian is a good entry into Brad Anderson's catalogue but not a great entry as I had hoped.

Gore-mild

Nudity-none

Overall - 7/10