Eastwood’s new movie is so simple it could be Quaker. Boy stops terrorist on train. That’s about it. No background on the terrorist or his motivations; that would be moral equivalence not pure evil. No connection to boy’s prior life and act of heroism. Most shocking, no connection between act of heroism and heroism; act turns out to be blindly rushing an armed shooter whose gun happens to jam by happenstance. As the Guardian puts it: “The 15:17 To Paris Review — a truly dull tale of real-life derring-do.” And yet this cartoon is bracing precisely because of its simplicity. Eastwood to Hollywood: Keep It Simple!
BTW can’t wait for Red Sparrow with J Law and Jeremy Irons, out March 1 — sex, gore and Putin (a featured character).