20s Movie Review - Train Dreams

Director: Clint Bentley
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Joel Edgerton, William H. Macy, Felicity Jones, Kerry Condon, Clifton Collins Jr.

Description: Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton) is a logger and railroad worker who leads a life of unexpected depth and beauty in the rapidly changing America of the early 20^th Century.

Review: “Train Dreams” is one of those movies that came out in 2025 that hardly anyone saw, but is heartbreaking, poetic and visually stunning. A film about loneliness, loss and the transience of life.

We meet Robert Grainier, who works as a logger and railroad builder, helping to carve infrastructure through the rugged Pacific Northwest in the early 20^th Century. His life finds central meaning when he marries Gladys and they have a daughter, building a modest cabin in Idaho.

The film has emotional depth and is a film that will stay with you. It’s heartbreaking and forces you to think about what is truly important in life. Grief and loss are a big theme in this film. The pacing is a bit slow, but it fits the film and the story its telling.

The visuals are stunning, the images of nature and the landscape. It’s an essential part of the story.
Joel Edgerton, who plays Robert Grainier, I can only praise for this powerful performance. It’s one of his best.

The film is a Netflix original and you can stream it at home. And you should, more people should be talking about this movie, because it’s so beautiful.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Review - F1

Director: Joseph Kosinksi
Genre: Action/ Drama
Runtime: 155 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Brad Pitt, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem, Damson Idris, Tobias Menzies
 
Description: A Formula 1 Driver (Brad Pitt) comes out of retirement to mentor and team up with a younger driver (Damson Idris).
 
I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 45: A FILM WITH BRAD PITT
 
Review: For fans of Formula 1, this popcorn flick is a big treat. But even I, someone who has no interest in Formula 1 whatsoever, enjoyed it.

Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a professional driver who comes out of retirement to help the team of an old friend, which is on the verge of disappearing completely.

The visuals are impressive and realistic. The racing action scenes look fantastic. I can tell you that Formula isn’t that exciting in real life, but in this movie I was on the edge of my seat. I think this film would be a great experience on the big screen. The cinematography and camera work are amazing.
Brad Pitt’’s charm always wins me over. Even though he isn’t always very likeable, his team mate Joshua Pearce (played by Damson Idris)  is insufferable at times. Which makes Pitt’s Sonny Hayes the better and more believable character.

People are criticizing the predictability of the film. While I do see it, many things I expected to happen for sure, didn’t. So it’s a little bit of both.

Things I didn’t like, were mainly the length of the film. There was no need for it to be two-and-a-half hours long. With that, the number of product placements and sponsor mentions is extremely high, to the point where it bothered me.

Overall, I was surprised with how much I actually liked this film, as a non-Formula 1 fan. Brad Pitt is probably the main reason why I enjoyed is as much as I did. And the visuals made it into a great movie experience. If I liked it, most Formula 1 fans will eat this up.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Review - The Banshees of Inisherin

Director: Martin McDonagh
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 114 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan
 
Description: Two lifelong friends (Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson) find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them.

Review: If there is one movie you need to put on you viewing list this year, let it be “The Banshees of Inisherin”. For me, the pairing of director Martin McDonagh and his two leads Colin Farrel and Brendan Gleeson, was enough reason for me to check it out. This trio teams up a second time after “In Bruges”, which is one of my all-time favorite movies. Although they once again provide a top shelf film, “The Banshees of Inisherin” has become a very different movie.

The story is set in 1923 during the Irish Civil War. most Irish people wonder with great anxiety what the future will rbing them, except for Pádriac who lives on the fictional island Inisherin. Like his sister Siobhan who is known in the village as an old spinster, he is content with what he has. Pádriac spends almost all his time with his animals and his best friend Colm, with whom he spends numerous hours in the local pub. It is a friendship that the Irishman suspects will never end, until one day Colm announces that from now on he want to devote his life to more meaningful conversations and composing music. In that new life, there is no place for Pádriac.

A parable about friendship that shows above all its fragility. It’s a very special kind of film you rarely see. McDonagh returns to his British-Irish roots after the downright fantastic “Thee Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri” (also a favorite of mine), and tells an intriguing, deeply human story about mortals for whom the world is no bigger than their village.

“The Banshees of Inisherin” is a cinematic gem not to be missed. The wonderfully beautiful film is touchingly funny, the cast is outstanding. Colin Farrell gets better with age and the role of Colm is right up Brendan Gleeson’s alley. Although the year has only just begun, it seems that with this title, I already have a candidate for my favorite film of 2023.

Rating: 5/ 5