New Netflix Film “Train Dreams” Captures Breathtaking Beauty, Earns Critical Acclaim
A new film, “Train Dreams,” starring Joel Edgerton as an orphaned lumberjack, is drawing praise for its stunning visuals and poignant exploration of life’s fleeting nature. The movie, based on the acclaimed novel by Denis Johnson, follows Robert Grainier as he navigates life and loss while working on railroad construction. Critics are highlighting the film’s immersive cinematography and Edgerton’s sensitive performance.
The New York Times reviewer described the film as “really gorgeous,” noting the “painfully stunning” landscapes – mountains, trees, and sunsets – that “are so incredibly tall…almost as if they’re not real.” The review further explains the film portrays how thankfulness for life’s magnificence ofen emerges as its end approaches. Johnson’s source novel, initially published in The Paris Review at the turn of the millennium, gained increasing recognition, earning a 2012 Pulitzer Prize nomination and a 2024 ranking among The New York Times‘ best books of the 21st century.
The Guardian newspaper also lauded the film, awarding it four out of five stars and noting its clear inspiration from the cinematic style of Terrence Malick. They praised Edgerton’s ability to convey “the mystery of every life” – its brevity and how it’s distilled into a “fleeting series of memories” – with ”sensitivity and grace.” The Associated Press reports growing interest in Johnson’s original novel, which, at just over 100 pages, packs a powerful emotional punch.