Snowpiercer | Movie Review

Every summer, there seems to be that one film (generally referred to as a ‘Sleeper’), that makes its way through the proverbial cinematic cat door and takes movie-going audiences by surprise. Even with a much delayed release, as well as raised expectations from months of build-up and anticipation in cultish circles; I am still declaring Snowpiercer as the sleeper film for summer 2014.

The year is 2031. Our society has drastically failed in our mission to combat global warming, and in fact our own arrogance has brought about the crippling of the entire world. It has been 17 years since the world was lost to snow and ice in a failed initiative to curtail climate change, with the only remaining survivors now gliding aboard a globally engineered train that traverses continuously. Day after day. Year after year.

The train inhabitants have submissively relegated themselves to their stations in life: The poor are allotted nothing more than gelatinous protein bars and told to be grateful for what they have back in the tail of the train, while the rich are allowed to enjoy their days in the more relaxing and rewarding atmosphere afforded to those closer to the front. Wilford, the near folk-hero inventor of this global life-saving device, remains unseen and unheard of…yet his ominous presence is felt in every car.

Unrest is inevitable as the have-nots are frankly tired of their resigned positions and decide to revolt and recapture what little remains of their dignity. Captain America drops the shield in favor of a wool skull cap as Chris Evans’ Curtis leads the plot to take Wilford and the train from the grasp of its seemingly sadistic conductor.

Why does such a simple premise offer so much promise? In a word – it’s unique. Forged together through a meshing of random action clichés and visual styles, Snowpiercer manages to offer us a fresh platter of varying tastes. From the bleak Hunger Games-style dystopian backdrop, to the almost Japanese touches of oddly affecting characters (kudos to the infinite weirdness that is Tilda Swinton), to the Americanized hero leading the charge, to the drug-addled Korean locksmith (Kang-Ho Song), combined with action moments from each of these varying styles: Snowpiercer has a completely insane mixture of tastes suitable for any film fanatic.

While the action from car-to-car is what propels the momentum forward, the story is what keeps it interesting. Is Wilford truly evil incarnate, or simply a dreamer desperately attempting to save his species? Would life not continue smoothly if we did just resign to our stations in life and waited for the better opportunities that might lie ahead through patience? When you are talking about the fate of civilization, do we not need to be willing to sacrifice certain freedoms in order to avoid absolute extinction? Director Joon-H0 Bong offers us moments of intense action set atop a blistering social commentary that broaches everyday topics of the modern man. The longer Snowpiercer jettisons along its ice-imbued tracks, the more possible a scenario the bullet train life-style portends to be.

While Swinton, John Hurt and Jamie Bell drop by to give their typically thoughtful character turns, Chris Evans finally finds the canvas to showcase the man beneath the tights. Evans has long been an easily likeable actor with several acclaimed performances under his belt (see Puncture if you can find it), yet Snowpiercer affords Evans the first opportunity to truly challenge his dedicated action audience to accept him under any circumstances. Curtis looks like a hero and feels like a hero, yet as the film continues and Evans treats us with a harrowing monologue late in the film’s final act (easily his finest acting to date); the actor challenges our expectations of what a hero truly is, and emerges from the film an actor we should never lock in that box again.

Snowpiercer is exactly what action fans have been clamoring for, so seek Evans & Company out and prepare yourself for a unique cinematic experience tremendously needed in this summer already full of retreads. Originality, crazed plot turns, visceral action scenes, and rich character depth infuse this nightmare scenario with the momentum necessary to propel it to the front of the line of summer action films.

If $10 is the full price of admission, Snowpiercer is worth $8.50