Deidra & Laney Rob a Train (2017)

After their mother ends up in jail, two sisters turn to train robbery in order to support their family.

Director:

Sydney Freeland

Writer:

Shelby Farrell

Stars:

Ashleigh Murray, Rachel Crow, Lance Gray

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ashleigh Murray	...	Deidra Tanner
Rachel Crow	...	Laney Tanner
Lance Gray	...	Jet Tanner
Danielle Nicolet	...	Marigold Tanner
Arturo Castro	...	Carlos McMillan
Gage Bradley	...	Derek
Nick Moceri	...	Mr. Morrissey
Clément Bauer	...	Taylor
Raeann Eck	...	School Secretary
Sasheer Zamata	...	Ms. Spencer
Brooke Markham	...	Claire
Sabrina Haskett	...	Darlene
Amanda Corbett	...	Katie Lynn
Missi Pyle	...	Mrs. Fowler
Kinna McInroe	...	Gloria

Storyline

DEIDRA & LANEY ROB A TRAIN is the story of two teenage girls who start robbing trains to make ends meet after their mom goes to jail. Set in present day, with shades of RAISING ARIZONA and LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE. Written by Shelby Farrell, with Sundance Film Fest alum Sydney Freeland (DRUNKTOWN'S FINEST) directing, and Susan Cartsonis (THE DUFF, WHAT WOMEN WANT) and Nick Moceri (A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT) producing.

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Plot Keywords:

character names in title | forenames in title | train | pageant | idaho | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 March 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Deidra e Laney Assaltam um Comboio

Filming Locations:

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

General Population (GenPop), Storefront Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Crazy Credits

There's a mid-credits scene.

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Soundtracks

Teach Me How to Be Loved
Written by Rebecca Ferguson and Jonny Lattimer
Performed by Rebecca Ferguson
Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd
By arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Shows an interesting corner of life

"Deidra and Laney Rob a Train" is set in a non-descript town where almost no one goes to college, the local rail yard doesn't pay a sustainable wage, and signs of the town's glory days have littered the town's visual landscape. There's a lot of talk lately about showing more people of minority races on TV but this is a film that shows a landscape of economic depression that doesn't discriminate against people of either color. The two protagonists are bi-racial and neither their African-American mother nor their white father can make enough to provide them a brighter future (though points go to mom for trying quite a bit harder).

When the titular characters' mother gets incarcerated, they decide to rob the insides of slow-moving freight trains to raise money for their bail. The film gets interesting when exploring the dangers and logistics of such an act. Like a lot of the film, the appeal is in exploring a corner of Americana that has been right under your eyes most of your life.

Deidra and Laney are astereotpical with the elder sister being an overachiever in school and Laney being angst-filled and Laney filled with a mixture of angst and a desire to fit in. She's bullied quite a bit and these scenes are perhaps the cruelest in the film to stomach if you haven't seen much of this genre. The film is filled with a few familiar faces (Sasheer Zamata of "Saturday Night Live", Missi Pyle, and Tim Blake Nelson) but mostly thrives on new talent and these actresses have a lot of room to surprise us.

It's a worthwhile watch.