Blu-Ray Review: 15:17 To Paris

Blu-ray Reviews, Film, Reviews, Top Story

The events of August 21, 2015, on a train going to Paris is a treatise on heroism in the modern world. Three lifelong friends who happened to be on the same train at the same time, enjoying a holiday, wound up foiling a terrorist attack through sheer bravery. Clint Eastwod

The film follows the three men (Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler and Alek Skarlatos) and their journey that got them to that particular moment. The key is that Eastwood cast the heroes of that day to play themselves as adults instead of casting actors in their role.

It’s a bold move and it doesn’t do much for the film because they’re painfully awkward amateurs. None of the three are regular actors and Eastwood’s directorial style, of shooting long enough to get the take right and moving on, doesn’t help them.

While it’s interesting to see the real heroes of the day recreating what happened, it ruins the film because they’re not actors and Eastwood doesn’t try to push them into being good enough to carry the film. The film would’ve been better served with a real cast, and the actual heroes in cameo roles, instead of trying this as a stunt.

There’s an EPK piece about the attack as well as a look at how Eastwood designed everything are included.

Warner Bros. presents 15:17 to Paris. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Written by Dorothy Blyskal based on the novel “The 15:17 to Paris: The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train, and Three American Heroes” by Jeffrey E. Stern, Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler and Alek Skarlatos Starring Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler and Alek Skarlatos. Run Time: 94 minutes. Rated PG-13. Released on: 5.22.18