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Actors: Clive Owen, Jennifer Aniston, Vincent Cassel and Melissa George
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Derailed |
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The Hitchcockian tale "Derailed" starts off at a prison, with a voice-over of the protagonist, Charles Schine (Owen), explaining how he's ended up there. His flashback begins at the family home in suburban Chicago, with Charlie, his lovely wife, and their sweet daughter Amy having breakfast. We learn Amy is suffering from a life-threatening disease, and the Schines are saving to buy an expensive medical device to help her.
That morning, Charlie, an ad exec who takes the train to work each day, forgets the fare. A leggy young woman named Lucinda (Aniston) pays it for him. Charlie insists they meet again so he can repay her, but he's also attracted to her. One night they share personal stories and family photos, with Lucinda explaining she's a successful businesswoman, but her husband neglects her. They end up getting a room at a fleabag hotel, and the hankypanky is just starting when an intruder bursts in, robs them, beats up Charlie, and rapes Lucinda. Their nightmare isn't over, though; days later, the attacker begins blackmailing Charlie. In fact, Charlie becomes so unnerved by the constant demands for money (earmarked for his daughter), he decides he'll strike back. He enlists the aid of a young ex-con who works in the ad agency's mail room.
--Elana Starr, Resident Scholar
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A thief-spy-circus acrobat, Galina Konstantin, has stolen three vials of a biological weapon, a mutated strain of smallpox, and is being pursued by the Slovakian military. Nato agent Jacques Kristoff is called away from his family holiday in Vienna to escort her to Germany. After a narrow escape, involving a car chase and a massive explosion, they catch the train from Bratislava to Munich. Kristoff's wife and teenage children, unaware of the danger, unexpectedly join them to celebrate his birthday.
A group of ruthless criminals led by Galina's mentor, Mason Cole, board the train looking for the vials and take the passengers hostage. Kristoff and Galina evade them for a while, but during a fight one of the vials is broken, infecting everyone on the train. Kristoff prevents the terrorists escaping by helicopter with the remaining vials, which could be used to create an antidote, but while riding a motorcycle along the roof to get to the engine he is shot at and forced off the train.
The younger passengers are rapidly dying. Kristoff's wife Madeline, a doctor, struggles to care for them and to organize the others. Meanwhile the authorities are deciding that the train must be stopped before entering a populated area.
--Maureen Evans, Resident Scholar
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A married Manhattan advertising rep, Charles Schine (Owen), becomes infatuated with a sexy younger woman named Lucinda, (Aniston) whom he meets on his commuter train. She also happens to be married, but the couple agrees to meet in a hotel for a night of passion when things goes terribly wrong.
An armed man bursts in, beats Charles, rapes Lucinda and leaves with their wallets. As soon as Charles thinks everything is over days later, the thief blackmails Charles for a staggering amount of money.
Charles tries to fight the blackmail by hiring muscle, a disastrous move that gets him into potentially dire legal trouble. In trouble with the law and fighting for his life, Charles fights back for his money, which was put aside years ago for medicine for his deathly ill daughter.
--Adam Tobias, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Derailed |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
books by breaking them down into many different literary
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 50%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 23.3%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 26.7%
Time/Era of Movie:
- present (2000-2010)
Spying & Terrorists
Yes
Cloak & Dagger Plotlets:
- Preventing bomb/biohazard/disaster
Disaster, big vehicle
Yes
Kind of vehicle:
- train
Crime & Police Story?
Yes
Crime story:
- hunted by killer/stalker
- being chased by crooks who want treasure/$$$$
Combat acrobatics/martial arts?
Yes
Blackmail & Seduction
Yes
Criminal enemy is...
- thief/con-artist
The terrorist enemy is...
- terrorist group
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- short/standard straight (man)
Body type
- muscular (man)
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
How much in movie?
- 40%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 20%
Body type
- skinny (man)
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Midwest
City?
Yes
City:
- Chicago
Misc setting
- moving train
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately messy visuals of dead
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- kissing
- licking
How much use of techno gadgets?
- 1 (None)
Kind of violence:
- guns
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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