Transsiberian (2008)

A Trans-Siberian train journey from China to Moscow becomes a thrilling chase of deception and murder when an American couple encounters a mysterious pair of fellow travelers.

Director:

Brad Anderson

Writers:

Brad Anderson, Will Conroy

Stars:

Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer, Ben Kingsley

2 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Woody Harrelson	...	Roy
Emily Mortimer	...	Jessie
Ben Kingsley	...	Grinko
Kate Mara	...	Abby
Eduardo Noriega	...	Carlos Ximénez
Thomas Kretschmann	...	Kolzak
Etienne Chicot	...	Frenchman
Mac McDonald	...	Minister
Colin Stinton	...	Embassy Official
Perlis Vaisieta	...	Manager Hotel Pushkin
Mindaugas Papinigis	...	Young Detective
Mindaugas Capas	...	Military Officer
Visockaite Sonata	...	Female Train Attendant #1 (as Sonata Visockaite)
Larisa Kalpokaite	...	Female Train Attendant #2
Valentinas Krulikovskis	...	Young Waiter

Storyline

Americans abroad. Roy and Jessie finished a volunteer stint in China. He loves trains, so they go home via the Trans-Siberia Express. There are strains in the relationship, including her past. They meet Carlos, a Spaniard, traveling with Abby, a young American. Carlos keeps close to Jessie, and when Roy is left behind and waits a day for the next train so he can catch up, Jessie and Carlos take a trip into the dead of winter to photograph a ruined church. Carlos may be running drugs, so, later, when Roy catches up and introduces Jessie to his new pal, an English speaking Russian narcotics detective, he's the last person Jessie wants to see. Will the Siberian desolation be their undoing?

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Plot Keywords:

train | china | church | drugs | spaniard | 

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Taglines:

You can't escape your lies.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violence, including torture and language

Details

Official Sites:

First Look Studios Official site [Germany]

Country:

Spain Germany UK Lithuania

Language:

English Russian Spanish Chinese French

Release Date:

24 October 2008 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Expresso Transiberiano

Filming Locations:

China

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$34,615 (USA) (18 July 2008)

Gross:

$2,203,641 (USA) (7 November 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmax International, Canal+ España, Filmax Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital EX

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Emily Mortimer was approached about appearing in the film, she had only 24 hours to make a decision on the script. Not being familiar with Brad Anderson's previous works, she said yes immediately after reading the script.

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Goofs

When Detective Grinko is scrolling through photos on the camera, the images are seen going BACK through time (this is logical - the photo view mode starts with the most recent photo and you scroll backwards to go back). We see the photos of the paintings in the church, then the eagle etc. However, he is pressing the RIGHT button - this would cause the photos to scroll forwards in time (to the right). He should be pressing the LEFT button in order for the camera to scroll backwards as it is shown.

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Quotes

Jessie: Kill off all my demons, Roy, and my angels might die, too.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Episode dated 19 July 2008 (2008)

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Soundtracks

Love Will Keep Us Together
Written by Neil Sedaka & Howard Greenfield
Performed by Captain & Tennille

User Reviews

Predictable and boring.

The first scene makes you believe that you are about to see an interesting thriller! (hahaha, you fool!)

With a slow and Boring start this movie dragged on through the first act revolving around the relationship of Jesse and Roy, nothing special just a boring drama with nothing new to show. That is until the second act, when suddenly you can make a choice weather to laugh or get angry at the ridiculous yet predictable "plot twists" that might surprise a 3 year old, but that's about it! The level of predictability, and unrealism is what completely made me loose interest and disconnect with the story.

The character of Jesse was absolutely neurotic and stupid in such an extreme that as an audience I stopped caring about what would happen to her.

The use of flashbacks was completely unnecessary, showing something you had already seen, it just gave the feeling that the director was unsure of the audience's capability of understanding the story... (it was extremely annoying)

As if that was not enough, it was offensive towards Russia showing stereotypical judgment, and supporting the "America rules", "Americans are always the good guys" attitude.