My favorite thing about film is that it provides so many different elements to analyze. Writing, acting, audio, visuals– it’s an art form with many components. Only rarely does a film evoke the feeling of another medium of art, like a painting or a poem. 2025 now has one such film. Netflix‘s Train Dreams is lyrical and emotional, with unforgettable performances and imagery.
The story begins in 1917 in Idaho, where Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton) works as a logger. He’s part of a team felling trees for the war effort. He meets and marries Gladys (Felicity Jones) and builds a house, then works logging season again after the war ends, then has a baby girl, then works logging season again, and so on. His life makes him happy. The work is dangerous, though, and Robert experiences more than his fair share of grief and loss. The rhythms of nature influence more than just his work, as various people appear and leave their impact on his life. Robert is an ordinary man. His existence illustrates how remarkable that can be.
Train Dreams has so much beauty to offer in its visuals that it has secured a spot on my list of the best films of 2025. Especially when you add the wonderful script and acting on top of that. It is the kind of film that is a feast for movie buffs because of its interesting layers.
MORE: Need a recap of Everything We Know About Train Dreams? We’ve got you covered.
“Do you think the bad things we do follow us through life?”
Director Clint Bentley also co-wrote this film with Greg Kwedar. These two also wrote last year’s small but magnificent gem Sing Sing. Though the settings are quite different, there are definitely common themes that unite the two films. Sing Sing was about the way art can help people face difficult circumstances and heal. Similarly, Train Dreams explores how nature does the same. The environment of the forest where Robert works is a major factor in his emotional well-being. No matter how devastated he is, the natural world is there. It isn’t just the source of his livelihood. It ensures his survival, physically and emotionally. Robert is closest to nature when he is going through the most pain. Those moments have the fewest barriers between him and the outdoors.
The images created by Bentley and cinematographer Adolpho Veloso support that theme superbly. This film is just so beautiful to look at. I am considering begging Netflix to release this film on Blu-ray so I can own a physical copy of it. Just to look at it again. It’s that gorgeously shot. Besides the natural beauty, Bentley and Veloso have good instincts for composing shots as simple as one actor alone in a room. Even one sequence of a terrible fire is stunning. Even destruction is photogenic in this film. At one point, one character says to another, “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” He’s referring to nature. But he could just as easily be talking about the film.
MORE: If you want info on another Joel Edgerton project, take a look at the trailer for Dark Matter!
“This world is so intricately stitched together.”
That character could also have been describing Joel Edgerton’s performance. As Robert, he is phenomenal. Edgerton has been working steadily for a long time, in roles both high-profile and not, but this is an exceptional role for him. He has bounced from small to large projects and across a wide array of genres. He’s done meaningful supporting turns like Uncle Owen in various Star Wars installments, and he has had a few impressive lead roles, like 2016’s Loving. Robert is a showcase for him. This man is not loud or showy in any way. However, the big emotions must come across when it counts for the film to work. Edgerton makes sure they do. His performance here is award-worthy. There is no way to know yet how any nominations are going to work out, but Edgerton should be in the conversation.
Besides Edgerton, there are a few other remarkable details I have to talk about because they were unexpected. In a good way. Given the story’s historical setting, it was a pleasant surprise to see a brief but vivid depiction of immigration issues. Robert does more than logging. He also works building railroad bridges, and some of his Chinese co-workers suffer violent deportations. Sound familiar? Seeing one deportation up close has a deep effect on Robert.
That leads me to the next detail I want to discuss. Robert has recurring dreams throughout the film, and these repetitive images create a haunting layer to the cinematography. They are a storytelling choice that adds depth to the characterization. And it does so in a way that only film is capable of.
Finally, the use of narration in this film is outstanding. Veteran character actor Will Patton (who you would probably recognize if you saw him) delivers an excellent voice performance. It is well-written, just like the rest of the script. It truly serves a purpose. And it’s part of why Train Dreams is such a good movie. The artistic quality of everything, from the writing to the acting to the visuals, is special. It is one of the year’s best films.
5 stars out of 5
MORE: Check out our list of Top Ten Underrated Films of 2024 to see more about Craig Bentley and Greg Kwedar’s Sing Sing!
Train Dreams is streaming on Netflix.
