I’ve always enjoyed Tony Scott films. I like his editing, camera and visual style. Constant movement, saturated colors, and tight pacing. Even his weaker films have that great look that tells you you’re watching a Scott film.

Based loosely on a true story, the film follows a runaway train, and the two men who are racing to stop it before it reaches a densely populated area.

Scott stalwart Denzel Washington plays veteran engineer, Frank, while Chris Pine takes on the role of conductor. The pair are running their own freight train, while Frank guides and teaches the new conductor.

When a train leaves the trainyard at full speed, and unmanned, plans are put into place. Connie (Rosario Dawson), who runs the trainyard is working on a plan, aided by a visiting inspector, Werner (Kevin Corrigan) and clashing with her boss, Galvin (Kevin Dunn).

Scott amps the tension throughout as well as throwing in lots of personal conflict. The stakes get higher and higher throughout the film and he has a strong cast to carry the emotional and physical burdens of the story.

Washington and Pine make for a good pairing, and we are shown that neither character is perfect. In fact, the entire cast of characters are inherently flawed, which grounds them and makes them a lot more believable.

That also allows the viewer to buy-in to the escalating situation and this is something Scott has always been good at, amping the tension.

Is this my favorite Tony Scott film. Not at all, In fact, this one seems to slip from my mind on a regular basis, while Top Gun, Crimson Tide and Beverly Hills Cop II tend to be at the top of my list. Having said that, Scott made a lot of great films, but those three are the ones that resonate with me the most.

He makes great use of color, framing and pacing, and it just feels like he puts it all up there on the screen. And I loved when he worked with Washington. Whenever I saw Washington and Scott’s name on a movie poster, I knew it would be fun. And Unstoppable is no different. It’s fun, it’s a popcorn film that allows a number of great actors play.

This one does feel kind of forgotten, and it was his last film. I think I’m gonna have to go through his IMDB page and dive into the films that I haven’t watched for the blog yet.

Tony Scott, so many great films. Which was your favorite?