Review of The Railway Man (2013) by Darren H — 23 Mar 2015

I waited an entire film to find out how incredible this story really is and then bitterly resented how superficially and sloppily it was told. It's structurally a mess with a hodge-podge of themes of which none are explored in real depth.

There is absolutely no chemistry between Patti (Nicole Kidman) and Eric (Colin Firth), so this kills the believability of the romance. On the bright side, the transition of Eric from youth to middle age is seamlessly achieved by the strong performances given by Jeremy Irvine and Colin Firth.

There are some beautiful shots in this film and the odd line in the script that is powerful and memorable. For a story though based on true life about the resilience of the human spirit, the capacity for love to conquer over hate and for grace to be found in compassion, understanding and forgiveness, this film fails to give these items the necessary importance and attention they deserve.