The story for Runaway Train was long in the making. Legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa wrote a draft of the screenplay, with collaborators Ryuzo Kikushima and Hideo Oguni. But Kurosawa never made the film, and the rights ended up in the unlikely hands of Chuck Norris producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus. The director was a recent immigrant from Russia, Andrei Konchalovsky.

One of the writers for Runaway Train was Eddie Bunker. Bunker once robbed a bank, which put him on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List prior to a stint in San Quentin. Bunker's autobiography was "Dog Eat Dog", which Quentin Tarantino enjoyed so much that he named his production company after it. Tarantino gave Bunker a cameo role in Reservoir Dogs (1992), as Mr. Blue.

Perhaps because it was partly written by an former convict, the characters have the role reversals that are nearly characteristic of recent prison films, e.g. The Shawshank Redemption (1994). Buck is stupid but good-natured, while Manny is aloof but charismatic. The Assistant Warden, on the other hand, is a sadistic monster, who goes so far as to pay another prisoner to attack Manny.

Jon Voight got the most mileage out of Runaway Train. He received a Best Actor Oscar nomination, and won the Golden Globes' Best Actor award. Eric Roberts garnered a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination, and Henry Richardson was nominated for Best Editing.

Despite its success with critics (Roger Ebert gave it his top grade of four stars), the film was surprisingly unsuccessful at the box office. The likely culprit was the production company, which didn't really know how to market and distribute the comparatively cerebral action film.

While Runaway Train is undeniably a good film, and certainly in the top 10% of all American films, there were several aspects of it that I had problems with. As some spoilers follow, those who care about such things are now forewarned to avert their eyes.

Much critical praise has been heaped upon Voight's performance. He's a fine actor, and he does his usual good work, but the role doesn't compare favorably, for example, with Steve McQueen's in Papillion (1973). Manny is a killer who is loaded with hate, and not an ice-cool father figure who has relevant philosophical insights on life.

Voight is talented enough to make his character seem more than it is. The same cannot be said for John P. Ryan, who plays the relentless warden Ranken with all the subtlety of the runaway train. Ranken gives an sniveling white collar smarty a swishie in a scene that is undoubtedly intended to be humorous. I don't believe that wardens behave like that, and I definitely disapprove of how docile the response is from the luckless pencil pusher.

Later, once it is clear that the train will soon derail with the prisoners certain to perish, Ranken is willing to risk his life and that of others to kill Manny first. Surely Manny would prefer to simply fly over in the helicopter as an observer, and watch the pending implosion with his skin intact. As is, the ending is similar to that of Greed (1925), which has the murderer and the deputy facing death together, literally chained by their mutual hatred. Manny's 'triumph' appears rather hollow to this observer.

Rebecca De Mornay is brought into the story, mostly for her name to appear on the movie poster and video box. It is often said that her role is unglamorous, but she is still a beautiful woman. The real problem is that she seems little disturbed that she is trapped on a death train with two escaped prisoners until the pair begin a fight amongst themselves. Her motivations are suspect throughout.

But the real groaner is the formidable odds that escaped prisoners would get on a train minutes before the unknowing engineer coincidentally dies from a heart attack. Meanwhile, a young and beautiful female mechanic is asleep in the second car.

A much more plausible way to unfold the plot would have the prisoners confront the engineer, who eventually is killed. The prisoners have the ability to stop the train but not to restart it. This would lead to dissent between Buck, who wants to stop it, and Manny, who would do anything to avoid a humiliating recapture.

But despite its problems with characters, story, and temperament, Runaway Train is still a surprisingly good film. Credit goes to Konchalovsky, Voight, Roberts, and the original Kurosawa story, regardless of how much it was subsequently modified. (65/100)

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Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older