Tornasol Films
There's nothing wrong with a little good-old-fashioned formula entertainment when it's carried out as effectively as "The Last Train" (El Ultimo Tren), a spirited crowd-pleaser about a bunch of grumpy old men who steal a vintage steam locomotive.
Screened at the recent Nortel Networks Palm Springs International Film Festival, Uruguay's best foreign-language Oscar submission packs considerable border-crossing commercial appeal, stoked by expert storytelling and neatly realized performances from a trio of veteran Argentine (did we mention this was a co-production?) character actors.
When a slick entrepreneur (Gaston Pauls) announces plans to ship the historic No. 33 off to a Hollywood film production, several of the more radical graying members of the Friends of the Rails Assn., accompanied by a little boy, decide to train-jack said vehicle to the battle cry of "Our national heritage is not for sale!"
Naturally, in addition to taking a united stand, the three aging rebels turn out to have some very personal motivations for going on the cross-country journey, and as played by Hector Alterio (Professor), Federico Luppi (Pepe) and Pepe Soriano (Secretary), all three have the skills to make every seemingly tossed-off line count.
While it seldom jumps the track, plot-wise, following a fairly predictable course, the character-driven story, penned by first-time feature director Diego Arsuaga along with Beda Doccampo Feijoo and Fernando Leon, chugs along pleasingly with cleanly defined motivations and gentle comic touches.
There's nothing wrong with a little good-old-fashioned formula entertainment when it's carried out as effectively as "The Last Train" (El Ultimo Tren), a spirited crowd-pleaser about a bunch of grumpy old men who steal a vintage steam locomotive.
Screened at the recent Nortel Networks Palm Springs International Film Festival, Uruguay's best foreign-language Oscar submission packs considerable border-crossing commercial appeal, stoked by expert storytelling and neatly realized performances from a trio of veteran Argentine (did we mention this was a co-production?) character actors.
When a slick entrepreneur (Gaston Pauls) announces plans to ship the historic No. 33 off to a Hollywood film production, several of the more radical graying members of the Friends of the Rails Assn., accompanied by a little boy, decide to train-jack said vehicle to the battle cry of "Our national heritage is not for sale!"
Naturally, in addition to taking a united stand, the three aging rebels turn out to have some very personal motivations for going on the cross-country journey, and as played by Hector Alterio (Professor), Federico Luppi (Pepe) and Pepe Soriano (Secretary), all three have the skills to make every seemingly tossed-off line count.
While it seldom jumps the track, plot-wise, following a fairly predictable course, the character-driven story, penned by first-time feature director Diego Arsuaga along with Beda Doccampo Feijoo and Fernando Leon, chugs along pleasingly with cleanly defined motivations and gentle comic touches.
- 2/10/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
MONTREAL -- Italian director Cristina Comencini received the Grand Prix of Americas prize Monday for her latest feature, The Best Day of My Life, at the 26th Montreal World Film Festival. The top prize-winning film is about a 60-year-old grandmother, living alone in the family villa in Rome, who attempts to get three generations to reunite under her roof. The picture beat out 25 other contenders. Other prizes handed out Monday night at the close of the Montreal festival included the Special Grand Prix of the Jury, which went to Turkish director Tayfun Pirselimoglu's "Innowhereland," while Spanish director Carlos Saura's "Salome" received the best artistic contribution awards. Best screenplay went to Diego Arsuaga, who wrote and directed "The Last Train." French actress Sophie Marceau was named best director for her feature film debut, "Speak to Me of Love."...
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