Train Dreams

Another movie based on a book I haven't read so don't know if it's an accurate adaptation. Basically a drama following the tragic life of a man and his ability to adapt to changes set mostly in the early 1900's until the 1960's. It's a beautifully shot film with excellent scenery and the acting is great as well. There's not really a lot of story in the traditional sense other than just following this man's life experiences. There are a couple of minor issues. For some reason it follows the current trend of having
the characters speak in low tones and whispers and in some cases barely audible 'mush mouth' making it really hard to hear what they are saying without turning your volume up. I don't know why this a thing now, it's terrible. They also decided to shoot in a 3:2 aspect ration instead of usual widescreen. While it does give the film a more older look to it with most of it taking place in open outdoors and forests it feels like you are really missing out on a lot of beautiful cinematography. What should feel like a wide open spaces now feels like closed in and more claustrophobic. Once you get used to it it's not a big dead but I feel like this was not a great decision. Is it woke? I guess a little though the time periods make this a little harder to judge. It takes place during the railroad and
logging boom and deals a little with Chinese immigrants that were here for work. There is a disparaging comment about Chinese illegals being
mass deported and a scene with a group of white men attacking and throwing an immigrant off a bridge. He is then traumatized and sees the
immigrant in his dreams. There is also a weird scene where a black character randomly kills a religious white character in revenge for killing
his brother over race. This type of stuff may of happened around then but it feels a little forced in though the story is about tragedy following this character wherever he goes so I'm not really sure. These are minor issues and not the focus of the movie and still worth watching. Be warned this is not a feel good happy movie, it is a sad depressing one, but very well made and acted.