The Girl On The Train


The Girl On The Train is an interesting movie that on the surface just looks like a classy, well made and rather clever whodunnit, which of course, it is.
This mystery drama, however is so much more as it is essentially the story of three women, who all are on a circular kind of story which may be subtitled  " I 'm not the girl I used to be"
It's the tag line which bookends the entire movie.
All three characters embark on life changing ( and in one's case life ending) journeys which centre around grief, depression, self deception and addiction themes so much more interesting than the usual murder thriller......
I cannot say much about the storylines, without spoiling the whole piece, suffice to say the movie is totally owned  by Emily Blunt as lead character Rachel, an unsympathetic alcoholic on a self destructive and psychologically needy romp.
It's a performance worthy of an Oscar nomination for sure.
8/10


37 comments:

  1. Give her one. (Donald Trump).

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    1. Ha! I've just spluttered my coffee everywhere.

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  2. I have the book, but have (so far) been unable to get into it.

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  3. Your description makes me want to see the movie as soon as I can!

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    1. I think you will enjoy it John. In the UK THE FILM HAS BEEN PANNED FOR BEING SET IN THE US , but it kind of works with an American cast.......( Blunt plays a Brit which helps her isolation)

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  4. thanks for this review. i definitely plan on seeing this!

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  5. I read the book and found it really tense. Couldn't put it down but my daughter and her friends went to see the film and found it boring and long winded.
    Can't decide if I should go and watch it now.

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    1. It's worth going Sheila ..forget the novel

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    2. I don't think I have EVER heard that someone should forget a novel and see the film instead. .. now I'm intrigued.

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    3. Both are very different mediums ....
      In my experience the novel is always better than the movie as the visuals in your own head are always different....
      But I enjoyed the film because of the quality of the acting Blunt is fab

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    4. I don't think I have EVER heard that someone should forget a novel and see the film instead. .. now I'm intrigued.

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    5. I am listening to the audible version of this book on my smartphone and it is excellent. There are 3 different woman narrating the main characters and I am truly enjoying it. I will see the movie when I complete this book. I can see how the written book version can come across as underwhelming.

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    6. I did not like the book at all.

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  6. WOW! I just went to see this last night, myself. I have to say I pretty much knew the outcome from the beginning but not in regards to Blunts ending. I too thought it was exceptionally well done. The author Paula Hawkins actually came to the "Powell's" bookstore right here in my neighborhood about three months ago. She gave a great review of her novel, so I was anxious to see the movie. I think I'd still like to read the book because you get so much more of the thoughts and feelings behind the characters action. But, great movie!

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  7. The novel's plot was easy to predict, but...all the same I would have gone to the movie if it had been filmed in the UK. It's that sort of London to outer areas and back again that made the book just about plausible and interesting. NYC commuting trains have very different views.

    Best wishes.

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  8. Oh, goody! It's a movie I would like to see, and I was looking forward to your rating.

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  9. well...I am about 3/4 through the book and it's like who cares so I think I will wait for the movie

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  10. I think I read the book but with my memory, I probably did and would love the movie because I wouldn't remember a thing about the book lol. But I like the actors in it .. love Emily Blunt ..

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  11. I did not enjoy the book because the main character was a whiner and it was hard to have any empathy for her. I heard the movie was better so I might go see it.

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  12. I read about half of the book, then gave it away. Life is too short to voluntarily spend my time with people like that. I felt the same way about Gone Girl.

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  13. In a few lines you've accomplished a more comprehensive precis of the film than I managed by rambling more than five times as much.
    Now having seen so many reactions to the film by those who've read the novel I'm keener than ever to join the ranks of the latter.

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  14. A film we agree on 😊

    We saw this last week and loved it. Emily Blunt was brilliant as the main character. I also gave it an 8/10.

    I haven't read the book and don't intend to, the film was good enough for me.

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  15. Interesting - you're pretty much on your own in your opinion.

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  16. Sounds like one to watch :)

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  17. I loved the book. Mostly if I see films after I read a good book I find them a poor second. I really dislike films changed from the original setting as very often this is the reason the book works so well. Classic case in point is the Tom Cruise version of War of the Worlds. By the same token I can't see one with wind set on the Yorkshire dales :}

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  18. Thanks for your thoughts on this much trumpeted film. It was interesting that you only gave it 8/10. Maybe I'll not bother with it.

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    1. On reflection I should have given it 7.5

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  19. I was looking forward to seeing the film, but it hasn't gotten rave reviews, so I've decided against it.

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  20. I have two or three chapters left to read in the book. I'm hoping for a zombie invasion to wipe them all out, I'll be disappointed with anything less.

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  21. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  22. The book is fabulous

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