The Travelling Toe: "The 15:17 Train To Paris" (movie critique)

Monday, March 5, 2018

"The 15:17 Train To Paris" (movie critique)

THE 15:17 TRAIN TO PARIS
movie poster

A couple of weeks ago a Dear Friend and The Travelling Toe decided to see the new movie, "The 15:17 Train To Paris", directed by Clint Eastwood. The movie is based on true events and starred the young men who were the focus of the story. It was based on the book they wrote with Jeffery E Stein, "The True Story Of A Terrorist, A Train And The Three American Heroes". The three young men are Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, and Spencer Stone. They played themselves in the movie

A Terrorist, A Train, And Three
American Heroes
book

Here is just a short overview of the movie story line.

The movie begins in Sacramento CA, where all three of the boys live. They become friends as they are all sent to the principal's office way too many times. They enjoy playing video games especially military games together. As they grow older each boy takes a different path, but they remain in contact via various technology outlets. Spencer always had a dream to be in the military. He finally achieves his goal through hard work, determination over some set-backs and joins the Air Force. With Spencer at an Air Force base in Texas, Alek in the Army in the Middle East and Anthony in college, they made plans to meet in Europe for a vacation and to see the sites. When they decide to take the train to visit Paris, that is where the action takes place. As the train makes it's way towards Paris, a terrorist, who has been hiding in one of the toilet's, bursts out with an assault rife and begins attacking passengers on the trains. When Spencer sees the terrorist coming towards their train car, he jumps into action and subdues the terrorist. Alek comes to help Spencer and knocks out the terrorist and Antony begins to help wounded passengers. Needless to say, the three young men are all honored for their heroism on that day.