Review of The 15:17 to Paris

For whatever reason, this felt like the shortest movie I ever watched. Can't really explain it, but it seemed to be over in a flash. Though it did hold my interest, I didn't think it was riveting given the subject matter; it certainly didn't have the suspense of "The Taking of Pelham 123" for example. Where I agree with a lot of reviewers is that this wasn't one of director Clint Eastwood's finer efforts, however where I disagree is with the quality of the three young men who stood in for themselves as the heroes of the story. Not that they were great actors per se, but on the flip side, I didn't detect that they were self-conscious at all in their scenes, whether alone or with each other. I think that would be a difficult thing to avoid for anyone suddenly thrust in front of a motion picture camera. Regarding the actual event, it felt almost anti-climactic considering how the three men responded, particularly Spencer Stone, who seemed almost foolhardy in rushing the terrorist who's intentions would have mitigated a major disaster. Be that as it may, it was visionary on Eastwood's part to display American heroism at it's finest in a situation that could have gone horribly wrong. Alek Skarlatos, Anthony Sadler, and Spencer Stone certainly deserved the accolades bestowed upon them by President Mitterand and the citizens of France, who without their unwavering bravery, might have spent the following weeks and months in mourning for the hundreds of passengers who might have perished in another senseless act of terrorism.