Movie: The Girl on the Train
Direction: Tate Taylor
Cast: Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, Haley Bennett, Justin Theroux, Luke Evans, Allison Janney, Édgar Ramírez, Lisa Kudrow
Music: Danny Elfman
Cinematographer: Charlotte Bruus Christensen
Editor: Michael McCusker, Andrew Buckland
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Rating: ∗∗∗
What is it about: It’s a thriller drama based on a debut novel by Paula Hawkins of the same name. The film revolves around a chronic alcoholic who gets accused of getting involved in a missing person’s investigation. The film is directed by Tate Taylor.
Why it’s disappointing: A very clichéd psychotic thriller.
What to watch out for: Usually the adaptation takes a toll on the directors to keep up the intensity. I haven’t read the novel, but this film ponders the clichés and stereotypes in a well-crafted manner. The film has quite a predictable plot but the way director Tate Taylor spins a mystery around in narrating the three central women characters in the film was remarkable.
The film had a strong cast which made this clichéd thriller all the more interesting and kept the audience invested in the film. Emily Blunt was sunk in to the role of a black out drunkard and she performed it with great diligence. And that was perfectly matched by Rebecca Ferguson and Haley Bennett who were equally engrossed in their respective roles.
And the men in the film were not far apart in their performances. Justin Theroux and Luke Evans did a good job.
The cinematography by Charlotte Bruus Christensen was good and was rightly edited by Michael McCusker & Andrew Buckland.
Verdict: Tate Taylor did a great work in selecting the cast which kept this predictable thriller going strong. And that aspect made this adaptation work and kept the audience in knots at few places. Definitely worth a watch for strong performances.
