Night Train to Lisbon

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JOYCE M Nov 29 To characterize this movie as a mystery and thriller is to not have watched it. It’s an exploration of an examined and unexamined life in the context of Portugal’s revolution in flashbacks that both provide historical narrative and inform the dilemma of the protagonist in the 21st century. It is definitely not mindless entertainment, but a thought-provoking look at lives lived with risk or safety. The acting and directing are impeccable. The book is a bit challenging, but this script makes it all make sense. See more Les M 05/17/2024 With each passing film, I have less and less respect for the RT critics. The dislike of this film seems ridiculous. This is an outstanding film. Jeremy Irons leads an excellent cast. The writing is exceptional. The revealing of the story of the Lisbon resistance movement maintained my interest from beginning to end. 9 out of 10 See more Mahmoud M 03/12/2024 I love it, it's my stress release movies See more Isla S 09/04/2022 At first I thought this film had the potential to be really quite deep and indeed it is but its less compelling a watch than I suppose I'd hoped. There are certainly some good bits of dialogue and its fairly thought provoking but it was a bit too complicated for my personal taste. There are a number of sub-plots present but I didn't find myself feeling entirely engrossed or certainly on the edge of my seat regarding this title, which is a shame as the synopsis made this sound really quite appealing, as I say. I found particularly interesting the discussion about how bad potentially immortality would be, if we could attain it. Mortality and immortality is mentioned numerous times. There is a pretty decent sense of mystery and perhaps of intrigue at times but it still didn't entirely 'reel me in' so to speak, although I wouldn't say its a really bad film. I hear the book this film us based on is very good and that this film wasn't a great adaptation, which makes me think perhaps (given I'm an (ocassional/casual) bookworm as well as a film fan) I ought to give the book a read. Jeremy Irons gives a reasonable performance as the main character, Raimund Gregorius, although I wouldn't say the performance is especially memorable and his character hardly has the sor tof majestic look or feel I may expect of someone with such a name but there you go(!). Its a reasonably thoughtful film and its certainly not unwatchable. Its ok. There are better films that explore such deep issues as mortality and the impact of encounters on your self but it doesn't quite hit the mark I'd perhaps hoped, being a little convoluted. Its a reasonable watch but no more - one with a frustrating ending too and so overall I don't think I would recommend it as such, no. Perhaps I didn't pay enough attention to it (which would, of course, be my fault(?), to follow it as I should have and if I had maybe I'd feel differently, I'm not 100% sure but what else can I say?. I can't say more than that, surely. See more Graeme O 02/10/2022 Typically ponderous and tweedy Jeremy Irons performance. Which drags down a movie in which, for all the sophistication/Europeanness, everyone talks only English, and regardless of ethnicity many act as if members of the English upper class. Almost rescued by the backdrops of Lisboa, the famous sudespresso train and a struggle against Salazar's fascist regime. And by the odd existential moment: unsurprisingly as the underlying novel was written under a pseudonym by a Swiss writer and academic (who in effect Irons is playing). Most notable is the scene where the younger protagonist addresses his school congregation, arguing that God would not inflict eternal life on anyone. Since it would be either a torment - inescapable - or a negation of what gives life meaning - the knowledge that each moment matters, because each moment is precious. During the address, the older Catholic teachers, parents leave their pews. But the younger folk are inspired. Whether the older folk are offended at the religious heresy or, fearful of their own mortality, is left neatly hanging. See more 11/20/2021 I am somewhat puzzled by the relatively poor reviews for this film.I found it both captivating and emotionally engaging. The performances of the key roles were convincing and there was both humour and pathos in the portrayals by Irons and Tom Courtney. Lisbon photographs beautifully and the key existential themes of lost opportunity life as a journey and individual agency are impeccably clarified in the script. I simply loved it. See more Read all reviews

Night Train to Lisbon

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