Snowpiercer [Film Review]

Chris Evans has hardly ever impressed me. Never, apart from this film. He was decent in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, but he was doing comedy. Comedy's fun to act, drama's more difficult. Or so I've experienced. And the Captain America performances... I'm sorry but in my opinion he tries much too hard to be the admirable and patriotic hero, and doesn't put near enough emotion into his performances there.

But now... Snowpiercer has shown me a powerful side of Evans' acting that has me hoping for his future. Can't wait to see Puncture (whenever I get around to that...). He's truly amazing here, and he shows some tremendous emotion. Of course he acts well in the action scenes... though I have problems with the Cap performances, he does do well with action (talking up close action, not stunt double action).

Snowpiercer is another one of those post-apocalypctic films, with a bit more of a confined space. The entire thing takes place on board a speeding train which fights off the freezing outdoors. After an unsuccessful attempt to defend against global warming, the world has declined into another ice age, and most of humanity is dead. The remaining living are on board this train that works on a perpetual energy engine.

It's clear from the beginning that through this cultural collapse and consequential dependence on authority/government has spawned a potentially Hitlerian treatment of humanity. Those on board the train have been split into categories: those in the cars near the front, who live in lavish quarters and have wonderful views, and those in the tail end of the train, who don't even have windows and are all jammed together in extremely cramped areas. All of your belongings there stay on your bed or on your person.  When it comes to that part of the film, it feels far too... Hunger Games ish. It matches up with that film in the obnoxious idea that rich people look flippin' stupid, which is totally untrue and ridiculous.

It also reminded me a tad of City of Ember, in that the characters have to climb through authority to get to a place where they can overcome the inhumane and secretive society. There are some plot holes... or should I say unanswered questions... throughout the film. such as what the heck is up with characters cutting fish? Why are people oddly not-pale for not having seen sunlight for seventeen years? Why isn't anyone trying to figure out a way to fix the earth's current conditions? Why weren't any vehicles put on board the train, like a helicopter or something, using a miniature version of the same technology the train runs on?

Of course with a film like this you're going to have unanswered questions. But these probably could have been answered... or even fixed... easily. For example, many of my complaints with the plot as it progressed were answered by the end.

The cast is good... and excellent when it comes to Tilda Swinton. She is a stunningly unappreciated actress, and she always gives a role her best. Here she excellently plays an antagonist character, and it is just so fun to watch her act an eccentric character like this!

Despite the mentioned plot holes and some annoying shaky cam, this film is an absorbing and rather action packed film about a revolution aboard a train.