Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Exclusively Screens The Railway Man, A Movie of Heroism and True Love
When you put an elegant actor like Colin Firth together with an elegant actress like Nicole Kidman, you get an elegant film in the form of The Railway Man. And what a beautifully understated film it is.
The Railway Man is a British-Australian war film featuring a powerhouse cast that includes Jeremy Irvine and Stellan Skarsgård. It is directed by Jonathan Teplitzky (Gettin’ Square and Burning Man) and co-written by the award-winning British novelist and screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce. The Railway Man is based on a true story, immortalized in print by Eric Lomax in his autobiography of the same name.
Lomax and Patti have a quiet romance that is beautiful in its simplicity
The film opens with the beautiful meeting of Eric (Firth) and Patti (Kidman). Their romance is not like what we’re used to seeing, the kind that needs fireworks and cheesy one-liners. Instead, theirs is a quiet meeting that is beautiful in its simplicity. But what Patti does not know is that Lomax is still haunted by his past as a former British army officer tortured at a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp during World War II. As his flashbacks are becoming more frequent and violent, he decides to face his past and confront his tormentor, who managed to escape prosecution as a criminal of war.
The Railway Man jumps between past and present, and we better understand Lomax and his behavior. While the method is cliche, what makes the film a terrific watch is its subtlety. Things are not blatantly explained, they are presented in clean yet artistic shots, allowing the emotions to be the star of the film. And by allowing Firth and Kidman to portray the roles of Lomax and Patti, you get a rewarding and emotional experience.
Hiroyuki Sanada plays Lomax’s tormentor in the present day
Of course, the highlight of the film is when Lomax finally meets Takashi Nagase (Tanroh Ishida in flashbacks, Hiroyuki Sanada in the present), his tormentor. This meeting is what serves as the main conflict of the film: does he exact his revenge to finally get inner peace? Or will Lomax forgive him to allow Lomax to bury the ghosts of his past and start afresh?
The Railway Man beautifully portrays the strength and weakness of the human spirit, and the power of personal choice. Lomax realizes this and ends up making the decision that would continue until the end of his life in 2012. Fortunately, he made the right one.
Firth plays Lomax with quiet intensity, and he is enjoyable to watch
The film premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival, and it soon received acclaim from film critics. The film aggregator Rotten Tomatoes described the film as “understated to a fault, The Railway Man transcends its occasionally stodgy pacing with a touching, fact-based story and the quiet chemistry of its stars.” Both Firth and Kidman were praised for their performances.
Those looking to watch The Railway Man can head over to the Eastwood, Lucky Chinatown, and Newport Cinemas, who will exclusively screen the film. Moviegoers can also buy their tickets for Newport Cinemas online by visiting www.megaworldlifestylemalls.com. They may also avail of the Lucky Chinatown and Newport Cinemas Movie Card, which is available in P200, P300, and P500 denominations at Newport Cinemas, and P200 and P300 at Lucky Chinatown Mall.
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Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Exclusively Screens The Railway Man, A Movie of Heroism and True Love
