By Blake Laurita
Staff Writer
Tackling terrorism head-on, “The 15:17 to Paris” focuses on one of the most controversial topics of the modern era in a real-life heroic tale.
“The 15:17 to Paris” excels in its incredible message and skillfully dynamic cinematography. However, the film is negatively impacted due to its weak supporting cast and lackluster writing.
“The 15:17 to Paris” was directed by Clint Eastwood, and stars Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, and Spencer Stone the real-life heroes who play themselves in the film. The film pays tribute to the three heroic individuals who stopped a potentially catastrophic terrorist attack on board a train in which 500 passengers were on.
The beginning of the film relies heavily on rather mundane exposition focused on the three protagonists’ childhoods. The rest of the film follows the three mens’ vacation across Europe and events leading up to their acts of bravery.
One of the films strongest aspects was its award winning cinematography. The film had an array of scenic European cities to film in and took full advantage of every single one of them. From the rooftops of Venice to the streets of Amsterdam, “The 15:17 to Paris” captures the breathtaking sights native to each country.
The driving force behind the film was its genuine and inspiring message that regular people can become heroes if a situation requires it. Fueled by a true story of heroism and bravery, “The 15:17 to Paris” truly captures the immense courage the three men who had when confronting and subduing the terrorist. The main way the film accomplished this was by having the three actual men who saved the train act as themselves in the movie.
One of the major downfalls in the film was the poor acting found throughout the movie. The mediocre acting was apparent in the supporting cast and not so much the three main protagonists Stone, Skarlatos, and Sadler. However, the people they often interact with feel uninspired causing many interactions to feel inorganic.
Arguably most catastrophic downfall of the film is the subpar writing. The poor writing was the main contributor to the actor’s inability to wholeheartedly take on their role and hinders the audience from becoming immersed in the story the film is telling.
Overall, the film is a well-intentioned tribute to three heroes that thrives in its cinematography and the deliverance of the powerful message of courage. However the movie falls flat in its supporting cast and its subpar writing.
“The 15:17 to Paris ” is rated PG-13 and is currently available for viewing in theaters nationwide.
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