Train Dreams (film)
| Train Dreams | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Clint Bentley |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | Train Dreams by Denis Johnson |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Adolpho Veloso |
| Edited by | Parker Laramie |
| Music by | Bryce Dessner |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release dates |
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Running time | 102 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Train Dreams is a 2025 American drama film directed by Clint Bentley, who co-wrote the screenplay with Greg Kwedar, based on the 2011 novella by Denis Johnson. The film stars Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Clifton Collins Jr., Kerry Condon, and William H. Macy.
Train Dreams had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2025, and was released in select cinemas in the United States on November 7, 2025, before its streaming debut by Netflix on November 21, 2025. The film received critical acclaim, with praise going to Bentley's direction and Edgerton's performance. Among its accolades, the film was named as one of the top ten films of 2025 by both the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. For his performance, Edgerton was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.[2]
Plot
[edit]The film recounts the 80 years of the life of Robert Grainier around Bonners Ferry, Idaho.[3] Arriving in the area on the Great Northern Railway as an orphaned child, Robert drops out of school and spends his younger years without direction or purpose, until he meets Gladys Olding. They marry, build a log cabin along the Moyie River, and have a daughter, Kate.
He takes to railroad construction for the Spokane International Railway, but witnesses a Chinese worker thrown off a bridge by a group of white workers for unclear reasons, and he is continually haunted by visions of the man and dreams of him being struck by a train. Robert later takes up seasonal logging work, but it takes him away from Gladys and Kate for long periods of time. He meets many men who leave impressions on him, but he also witnesses more tragedies along the way. One worker is killed by a vigilante avenging the murder of his brother; several other workers are killed by a falling tree, their graves marked by a pair of boots nailed to a tree. Robert grows close to a fellow logger, Arn Peeples, who is killed by a falling branch.
Robert tries to take up work closer to home but struggles in the post-World War I economy. He and Gladys decide to farm and build a lumber mill so he can stop logging, but Robert returns from his final season of logging to discover the cabin destroyed in a wildfire, with Gladys and Kate missing. A despondent Robert is brought company by his friend, Ignatius Jack, and he rebuilds the cabin. As Robert returns to logging, he finds himself out of place amid new technology and younger, rougher men, and decides to stop.
Taking a job as a carriage driver for townspeople, he meets Claire Thompson of the United States Forest Service who is in town to conduct a survey, who encourages him. Robert continually walks through the woods, believing he can feel the spirits of his wife and daughter sometimes, and hopes not to drive them away. One night, he believes he sees an injured Kate apparently return to the cabin and he tends to her wounds, but after a night of dreams he awakens to no sign she was ever there. He determines to continue living in the cabin in case she ever returns. Years go by, and the world changes around an aging and weathered Robert, who rides the Great Northern into Spokane, witnessing John Glenn's flight into space on a television.
The film ends on a spring day when Robert decides to fly in a biplane. As the plane loops and circles in the air, sights and sounds of people and places throughout his life pass through his mind. The narrator recounts that Robert died in his sleep in the cabin in November of 1968, leaving no heirs, but that on that spring day in the plane, "as he misplaced all sense of up and down, he felt, at last, connected to it all."
Cast
[edit]- Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainier
- Felicity Jones as Gladys Olding Grainier, Robert's wife
- Clifton Collins Jr. as Boomer
- Kerry Condon as Claire Thompson, a forestry services worker
- William H. Macy as Arn Peeples, an explosives expert
- Chuck Tucker as Silent Man
- Rob Price as Curious Logger
- Beau Charles as Young Logger
- Paul Schneider as Apostle Frank, a talkative logger
- John Diehl as Billy, an old logger
- Alfred Hsing as Fu Sheng
- Nathaniel Arcand as Ignatius Jack, a storekeeper and Robert's friend
- Johnny Arnoux as Kootenai Indian
- John Patrick Lowrie as Mr. Sears
- Will Patton as the narrator
Influences
[edit]Train Dreams has been compared to the work of Terrence Malick, and Bentley has cited Malick as an influence, describing him as "one of the greatest filmmakers to have ever lived."
He changed the language of cinema. He created a new form, like one of those rare filmmakers that turned the medium in a new direction. There's not many of them.
So, yeah, I'm a big fan. Trying to do my own thing, but if I'm mentioned in the same sentence as him, I'm very honored.[4]
Bentley has cited Jules et Jim and Y Tu Mamá También as key influences on the film’s use of third-person narration.[4]
Production
[edit]In February 2024, the film was reported to be produced by Black Bear as an adaptation of Denis Johnson's 2011 novella Train Dreams by Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, and directed by Clint Bentley and starring Felicity Jones and Joel Edgerton. Producers include Marissa McMahon and Ashley Schlaifer for Kamala Films, and Will Janowitz, and Teddy Schwarzman and Michael Heimler for Black Bear.[5] In May 2024, Kerry Condon, William H. Macy, and Clifton Collins Jr. joined the cast.[6]
Principal photography started in Washington in April 2024, with filming locations including Snoqualmie, Spokane, Metaline Falls, and Colville.[7][8] The production was approved for support from the Production Incentive Program of Washington Filmworks.[9] Although Bentley and cinematographer Adolpho Veloso considered shooting on film, the production’s 29-day schedule made it impractical; as a result, it was shot digitally.[4]
Bentley has said that only a limited number of real trees were felled during production; scenes depicting characters cutting into a tree were performed using an artificial prop constructed from wood and fiberglass, with visual effects applied to extend the trunk and canopy to resemble a full-sized tree.[4] Will Patton provided the voiceover for the film. He had also previously narrated the audiobook of Denis Johnson’s novella.[10]
Music
[edit]The Nick Cave song "Train Dreams", recorded for the film, was not included in the version shown at the Sundance Film Festival; it was added in subsequent releases.[11]
Release
[edit]Train Dreams premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2025.[12][13] Shortly after, Netflix acquired distribution rights to the film.[14] The film was released in select theaters in the United States on November 7, 2025, before being made available for streaming on Netflix globally on November 21.[15][16]
It competed in Stockholm Competition of the 2025 Stockholm International Film Festival on November 8, 2025.[17]
Reception
[edit]Critical response
[edit]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 204 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "A gorgeous meditation on America, ably shouldered by one of Joel Edgerton's very best performances, Train Dreams takes on mythic proportions while maintaining an intimate emotional delicacy."[18] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 88 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[19]
Accolades
[edit]| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | January 10, 2026 | Best Picture | Train Dreams | Pending | [20] |
| Best Actor | Joel Edgerton | Pending | |||
| American Film Institute Awards | December 4, 2025 | Top 10 Films | Train Dreams | Won[a] | [21] |
| Astra Film Awards | January 9, 2026 | Best Picture – Drama | Pending | [22] | |
| Best Actor – Drama | Joel Edgerton | Pending | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar | Pending | |||
| Best Voice Over Performance | Will Patton | Pending | |||
| December 11, 2025 | Best Cinematography | Adolpho Veloso | Nominated | [23] | |
| Best Original Song | "Train Dreams" – Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner | Pending | |||
| Camerimage | November 22, 2025 | Actor's Award | Joel Edgerton | Won | [24] |
| Chicago International Film Festival | October 19, 2025 | Artistic Achievement Award | Joel Edgerton and Clint Bentley | Won | [25] |
| Critics Choice Awards | January 4, 2026 | Best Picture | Train Dreams | Pending | [26] |
| Best Actor | Joel Edgerton | Pending | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar | Pending | |||
| Best Cinematography | Adolpho Veloso | Pending | |||
| Best Song | "Train Dreams" – Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner | Pending | |||
| Deauville American Film Festival | September 11, 2025 | Talent Award | Joel Edgerton | Won | [27] |
| Film Independent Spirit Awards | January 15, 2026 | Best Feature | Michael Heimler, Will Janowitz, Marissa McMahon, Ashley Schlaifer, and Teddy Schwarzman | Pending | [28] |
| Best Director | Clint Bentley | Pending | |||
| Best Lead Performance | Joel Edgerton | Pending | |||
| Best Cinematography | Adolpho Veloso | Pending | |||
| Golden Globe Awards | January 11, 2026 | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Joel Edgerton | Pending | [2] |
| Best Original Song | "Train Dreams" – Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner | Pending | |||
| Gotham Awards | December 1, 2025 | Best Feature | Michael Heimler, Will Janowitz, Marissa McMahon, Ashley Schlaifer, and Teddy Schwarzman | Nominated | [29] |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar | Nominated | |||
| Middleburg Film Festival | October 19, 2025 | Outstanding Achievement in Acting Award | Joel Edgerton | Won | [30] |
| Mill Valley Film Festival | October 7, 2025 | Spotlight Award | Won | [31][32] | |
| National Board of Review | January 13, 2026 | Top 10 Films | Train Dreams | Won[a] | [33] |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar | Won | |||
| Savannah Film Festival | November 1, 2025 | Vanguard Award | Joel Edgerton | Won | [34] |
| Seattle Film Critics Society | December 15, 2025 | Best Picture | Train Dreams | Pending | [35] |
| Best Director | Clint Bentley | Pending | |||
| Best Actor in a Leading Role | Joel Edgerton | Pending | |||
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | William H. Macy | Pending | |||
| Best Screenplay | Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar | Pending | |||
| Best Cinematography | Adolpho Veloso | Pending | |||
| Best Costume Design | Malgosia Turzanska | Pending | |||
| Best Pacific Northwest Feature Film | Clint Bentley | Pending | |||
| Stockholm International Film Festival | November 14, 2025 | Golden Horse | Train Dreams | Nominated | [36] |
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Train Dreams (12A)". BBFC. October 28, 2025. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ a b Lang, Brent; Moreau, Jordan (December 8, 2025). "Golden Globes 2026 Nominations: 'One Battle After Another' Tops Films With Nine Nods, 'White Lotus' Leads TV With Six". Variety. Archived from the original on December 8, 2025. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Kay, Jeremy (February 7, 2024). "Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones to star in 'Train Dreams'; Black Bear launching at EFM". Screen Daily. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins (November 20, 2025). "'Wicked: For Good' Is No Good. But 'Train Dreams' Is" (Podcast). The Big Picture.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (February 7, 2024). "Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones To Star In 'Jockey' Helmer Clint Bentley's 'Train Dreams'; Black Bear Introducing To Buyers At EFM". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (May 2, 2024). "Kerry Condon, William H. Macy, Clifton Collins Jr. Join Black Bear's Denis Johnson Adaptation 'Train Dreams' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Lopez, Kristen (February 7, 2024). "Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones to Star in Adaptation of Denis Johnson's 'Train Dreams'". TheWrap. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ Sullender, Amanda (May 9, 2024). "Major motion picture 'Train Dreams' is filming in Spokane, to star Joel Edgerton and Oscar nominee Felicity Jones". Spokesman. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Washington State Department of Commerce (October 2025). 2024 Motion Picture Competitiveness Report (PDF). app.leg.wa.gov (Report). Washington State Legislature. p. 19. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (October 11, 2025). "Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones & Kerry Condon Reveal Their Journeys On Clint Bentley & Netflix's 'Train Dreams' – Contenders London". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2025. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
- ^ "Escape From Malcatraz (ft. guests Benedict Cumberbatch & Dylan Southern; Joel Edgerton & Clint Bentley; Ariana Greenblatt)". podcasts.apple.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2025. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 11, 2024). "Sundance 2025: JLo, Sly Stone, Putin, Ayo Edebiri, André Holland, & Ex-NZ PM Jacinda Ardern Films Among Park City Festival Offerings". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
- ^ Ellwood, Gregory (January 17, 2025). "25 Most Anticipated Sundance Film Festival 2025 Premieres". The Playlist.net. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
- ^ Rubin, Rebecca; Lang, Brent (January 30, 2025). "Netflix Buys Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones Sundance Drama 'Train Dreams'". Variety. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
- ^ Hammond, Pete (June 25, 2025). "Netflix Sets Prime Oscar Season Release Date For Sundance Acquisition 'Train Dreams' With Joel Edgerton And Felicity Jones". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ^ Garner, Glenn (July 24, 2025). "'Train Dreams' Teaser Trailer: Joel Edgerton Rides The Rails In 'Sing Sing' Team's American Epic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
- ^ "Train Dreams". Stockholm International Film Festival. October 9, 2025. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
- ^ "Train Dreams". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
- ^ "Train Dreams". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ^ Lewis, Hilary (November 19, 2025). "Movies for Grownups Awards Nominations: 'One Battle After Another' Leads with 8 Nods". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- ^ Hammond, Pete (December 4, 2025). "AFI Awards Movie Top 10: 'Sinners', 'Avatar: Fire And Ash', 'Jay Kelly' Among Honorees". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
- ^ Alter, Ethan (November 25, 2025). "'One Battle After Another' leads Astra Film Awards nominations". GoldDerby. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
- ^ admin (November 19, 2025). "'Sinners' and 'Stranger Things' lead with the most nominations for the 2025 Astra Creative Arts Awards". Astra Awards. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- ^ "EnergaCAMERIMAGE Award for an Actor". Camerimage. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
- ^ "Tributes". Cinema Chicago. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
- ^ "Nominations Announced for the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards Hosted by Chelsea Handler". Critics Choice. December 5, 2025. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
- ^ Keslassy, Elsa (September 12, 2025). "Joel Edgerton Says 'I Never Thought of Myself as Talented' While Accepting Deauville Talent Award: I'm 'One of the Lucky Ones'". Variety. Archived from the original on September 19, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 3, 2025). "Spirit Awards Nominations: 'Train Dreams', 'The Plague', 'Sorry, Baby', 'Twinless' & 'Peter Hujar's Day' in Best Feature Race". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
- ^ Lewis, Hilary (October 28, 2025). "Gotham Film Awards Nominations: 'One Battle After Another' Leads with a Record Six Nods". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
- ^ Tangcay, Jazz (October 2, 2025). "'Rental Family' Named as Middleburg Film Festival's Closing Night Film". Variety. Archived from the original on October 3, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ Behan, Beau (October 2, 2025). "Mill Valley Film Festival Launches 48th Edition With Star Power, Global Cinema And Local Voices". Patch. Archived from the original on October 3, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ Johnson, G. Allen (September 24, 2025). "How to navigate the 48th Mill Valley Film Festival". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on September 25, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (December 3, 2025). "National Board of Review Winners 2025: 'One Battle After Another' Dominates with Best Film, Director, Three Acting Prizes". Variety. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
- ^ Feinberg, Scott (October 1, 2025). "SCAD Savannah Film Fest: Mark Hamill, Tessa Thompson and Oscar Isaac Among 10 Set for Honors". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 3, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ Neglia, Matt (December 5, 2025). "The 2025 Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
- ^ "Here are the winners of the Stockholm International Film Festival 2025". Mynewsdesk. November 14, 2025. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Train Dreams at IMDb