LymeLine Rolls Out Oscars Coverage With ‘Train Dreams’ Review

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of reviews highlighting this year’s Academy Award for Best Picture nominees. Watch for more perspective from Movie Man Kevin Ganey ahead of the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 15.

Train Dreams will likely not take home any major Oscars, but it is still a must-see movie.

This Netflix original is only 1 hour and 42 minutes long. A general rule I follow is if a movie under 2 hours comes across your radar, watch it ASAP. A 3-hour runtime, even if necessary, can drain audiences. It goes from entertainment to homework. It is nothing short of a miracle when filmmakers can efficiently tell a story.

This is a tribute to American history as we witness the expansion of the frontier through the eyes of log-man Robert Grainier (Joel Edgarton). It contains folksy vibes (necessary for its early 20^th century-setting), but steers clear of being hackneyed or cringe-worthy. Robert witnesses everything from xenophobic violence towards migrant workers, the first World War, and the creation of the United States Forest Service.

This is not just perspective on American civilization, but of the American wilderness and the wonders of nature. I recalled my own memories horseback riding while vacationing at a Wyoming dude ranch, thinking of what distinguishes our own wilderness from the rest of the world and the fauna that cohabitate with us. The randomness of nature plays a major theme in this movie, as Robert seeks to make sense of the unknown and observes the balance of the ecosystem along the way. But more importantly, Robert gradually begins to understand our role in our environment.

I don’t expect this to win any major Oscars, though upsets can happen. If people recommend Train Dreams in the future, I doubt they will need to appeal to the Academy Awards for its merit.

About the Author: Having lived in Old Lyme and Lyme since the age of three, Kevin Ganey has a lifelong passion for cinema that goes beyond simply watching films. He is the creator of CityOfCinema.com, a site devoted to movie analysis, and co-hosts the Moviehouse Mystics podcast with Koda Uhl, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.