Parallel Minds...
Patrice
Leconte's 'Man on the Train' is on low-boil for
its entire ninety minutes. The film simmers
without ever really generating a whistle. Don't
get me wrong... I liked the film, but feel that
it could have been less lethargic.
The plot is simple enough. A rugged stranger (Hallyday)
steps off the train in a small French village a
few days before a small-time bank robbery that
he has planned with some criminal buddies. He
finds himself befriending a local older man, an
oddball (Rochefort), and ends up staying at his
house rather than at the local hotel.
They slowly strike up a bizarre relationship,
each admiring and mimicking the other's quirks,
traits and interests. It is as though they are
each morphing into the other's personality. The
older man is also scheduled for a hospital stay
on the day of the intended robbery.
The film weaves its way, through a series of
elegant and interesting scenes, toward a
mystical conclusion. I'm not really sure what to
make of the ending or what the point of the
entire film might be, but I was intrigued from
credits to credits and found myself thinking
about the film in some depth. I am not sure I
came up with any reasonable answers. However,
any film that can make me ponder, like this one
did, deserves some praise. I don't think I want
to see the film again, but I am glad I saw it
the one time. A solid recommendation, but don't
expect a cinematic gem.
©
Written by TC Candler
Richard
Propes' Comment
n/a
Jacob
Hall's Comment
n/a
