As I commented in my last column, we are in the âdeath valleyâ days of new movie releases. Last weekend there were two new films out, one was Black Panther, the newest super-hero on the scene. Despite plenty of accolades from the highly paid professional movie critics, this was not my cup of tea, and (I could be wrong) probably not for most of the Sun Day News readers either. The other was Samson, a remake of the biblical story. After seeing the trailers on TV, Iâm not sure anyone would pay to see it, certainly not me.
So, without a lot to choose from that we havenât already seen, I decided to give The 15:17 to Paris a try. After all, itâs directed by Clint Eastwood, which gave me a very good reason to consider it, despite the fact itâs been in the theaters for a couple of weeks, and without a lot of success. I consider Eastwood one of the best movie directors in Hollywood along with Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, and Ang Lee.
I canât recall one of Eastwoodâs films, either as an actor or director that didnât have one or more memorable moments. This one is no exception, and like the movie Sully (which I hope youâve seen), there is one unforgettable scene that will most likely stay with you for a time. Thatâs the good news. Unfortunately it took one hour and twenty five minutes to get to that spot, and the movie is only one hour and thirty four minutes long.
The 15:17 to Paris
Entertainment Rating: ★★1/2
Rating: PG-13, scattered light profanity, a few moments of violence and bloodshed
Possible Oscar Nominations: None
This is a true story of three young men, lifelong friends, who happened to be in the right place at the right time. The three men play themselves in the picture, and to their credit they did a workmanlike job in their roles, much of their success no doubt due to the directorâs skills. Most of the story dwells on their lives, starting in grade school, and culminating in their decisions to join the military.
They took a leave together and decided to spend the time on a tour of some European countries, as they were stationed not too far away. Thatâs how they ended up on the 15:17 train from Berlin to Paris, the final leg of their journey. The peaceful ride didnât last long, however, as an armed terrorist appeared out of nowhere and began shooting passengers. Unarmed, our three heroes entered the fray and in a blazing finish to the movie, carried the day.
Alek Skarlatos, Anthony Sadler, and Spencer Stone, all men of faith, were rewarded with honors from both the French government and the United States culminating in a ticker tape parade in their home town of Sacramento. Iâm glad I saw this as I did not know the story, as I am sure many of you donât either. While the first hour or so moves slowly, almost methodically, the bonding of these three men into lifetime friendships was worth watching.
