Indie Gems: Transsiberian

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Got marital problems? Six days on a train should do it.


Jessie (Emily Mortimer) and Roy (Woody Harrelson) are in China working with children through a program with their church. Roy, a train enthusiast wants to take the Trans-Siberian railway to Moscow instead of flying home. On the train, they share a cabin with a Spanish man named Carlos (Eduardo Noriega) and his American girlfriend Abby. (Kate Mara) It turns out Carlos is smuggling drugs, and after Roy accidentally gets left behind at a stop, things turn out a way that Jessie never imagined. 

It's interesting to watch a thriller centered around two people who are frankly, pretty stupid. Roy is a nice guy, almost too nice. Like, this guy would be one of those that probably falls for those phone hoaxes where people lie and say they are from a credit card company or something. He's just a sweet guy, but way too trusting. Jessie is also incapable of keeping her shit together when things get really bad. The film never went quite where I expected it to.

Mortimer carries the film and is strong like she always is Harrelson, Mara, and Nroiega also place their parts well. Ben Kingsley shows up later on as a Russian police officer in a nice cameo. Although the movie asks us to suspend disbelief a few times, I found it to be a very enjoyable thriller. It had the misfortune of opening in two theaters back in 2008 on the same day as The Dark Knight. Knowing that now, I can't help but wonder if this would've gotten a wider release had it opened a different day?

Grade: B

Memorable Quote: "Did I say something wrong?" - Jessie (Emily Mortimer)

 Random note: While looking for an old post, I see this doubled posted back in June with another Indie Gem. So since no one saw this, I pulled it and reposted. Productive or lazy. You decide. 

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