Review of The Railway Man

I wasn't particularly impressed. There were only two moments I felt genuine, the beginning when he meets his wife on the train and when his friend Finley speaks to his wife in his room and shows her the news with the Japanese. The rest was slightly over the top. Also many things are not clear for example there is not one scene that explains why Finley was called Uncle, we just have to take his word for it because the true leader was Lomax; it is not clear why Lomax is so ashamed of being drowned to death what is the difference between that and the being beaten to death? Why one if more shameful than the other? Also anyone who would receive that kind of beating should have slightly more bruises than a small one on the nose. One sees the violence of a crazed Japanese guard but the outcome of that violence is barely there. Why do the Japanese respect his glasses? Finley asks Mrs Lomax if she would support her husband all the way as if she had to do god know what, but she does nothing she just witnesses her husband taking off. Even the sudden difference between before and after wedding is slightly unbelievable.

I love Colin Firth but I feel this film is just too polished to really feel the pain he must have endured