Dir: Clint Bentley
Cast: Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Clifton Collins Jr., Kerry Condon, William H. Macy
Clint Bentley crafts an intimate yet sweeping drama that lingers in the quiet ache of everyday life, letting grief unfold through prolonged moments of silence and some of the most stunning imagery you will see all year
For years, many have chased the elusive magic of filmmaker Terence Malick’s early work, but in Clint Bentley, we may have finally discovered a true heir. After the criminally overlooked character study “Jockey”, Bentley’s second feature, “Train Dreams”, stands as perhaps the most authentic Malickian triumph not directed by the master himself. Alongside his creative partner Greg Kwedar, Bentley made a splash on the indie scene in 2024 with the stirring prison drama “Sing Sing”. Though the film was somewhat overlooked at the 97th Academy Awards, it still earned three nominations, including adapted screenplay for both Bentley and Kwedar, as well as for real-life convicts Clarence Maclin and “Divine G” Whitfield.
With Kwedar having directed the A24 production, this time Bentley and Kwedar have traded places behind the camera, returning to the dynamic that shaped “Jockey” back in 2021. The shift in creative vision is unmistakable. While “Train Dreams” shares the intimacy and solitude of “Sing Sing”, Bentley elevates the experience with sweeping, majestic visuals, crafting what could easily be the year’s most breath-taking film. Adapted from Denis Johnson’s 2011 novella of the same name, “Train Dreams” was quickly scooped up by Netflix after a rapturous Sundance premiere earlier this year. Yet, despite the thrill of seeing such a modest film championed by an industry giant like Netflix, the decision to grant it only a fleeting theatrical run before its global streaming debut on 21st November has, ironically, done the film a disservice and short-changed its cinematic potential.
I missed the chance to witness this work of art on the big screen and, like many, had to settle for a home viewing, which left me genuinely envious of the lucky few who experienced it as Bentley and Kwedar intended, during its all-too-brief theatrical run or on the festival circuit.
Train Dreams unfolds as a quiet, intimate portrait of Robert Grainer (Joel Edgerton), an American logger whose life is shaped by solitude and the wild landscapes he calls home. Driven by love for his wife, Gladys (Felicity Jones) and their young daughter, Robert toils through forests across the country, his days marked by hard labour and his nights shadowed by haunting dreams. The perils of logging claim many of his colleagues, and Robert carries a heavy burden of guilt, convinced that fate punishes him for failing to save a Chinese immigrant from a brutal attack by white labourers.
After a series of heart-breaking losses, a grief-stricken and guilt-ridden Robert retreats to his woodland cabin, watching the American landscape transform from afar. Isolated from the world, he remains untouched by the sweeping changes in society and technology unfolding just beyond the endless trees that shield him from the rest of the country.
Rarely have I encountered a film with such a slender narrative that leaves such a lasting mark, and much of that is thanks to Bentley’s masterful command of visual storytelling. Like its mostly silent protagonist, “Train Dreams” glows in its haunting, wordless moments, where melancholy and emotion quietly surge beneath the surface. Robert Grainer’s tragic yet unremarkable existence stands in stark contrast to the larger-than-life tales that have dominated cinema since its inception, positioning “Train Dreams” as the quiet antithesis to the likes of “Forrest Gump”. While Tom Hanks‘ Oscar-winning turn is cherished for its uplifting, almost magical journey, “Train Dreams” turns away from Hollywood’s usual optimism, choosing instead to follow an ordinary man through an ordinary life. This may not sound thrilling, and for some it may not be, but the film’s true power lies in its tender depiction of a life lived in the margins, while the grander, more dramatic story unfolds just out of sight.
Though Robert Grainier’s life is punctuated by moments of danger and drama, the true heart of Bentley’s film beats in the backdrop of a rapidly transforming America. The twentieth century, with its two world wars and technological marvels, rushes by just out of reach, leaving Robert untouched and isolated from the world’s relentless progress. There is a bittersweet beauty in this distance, and cinematographer Adolpho Veloso captures it with breath-taking artistry, bathing the yet-to-be-touched American forests in golden light before they yield to the march of modernity. Each frame feels like a lovingly rendered painting with Veloso making every second of the golden hour count, and his bold choice of a 4:3 aspect ratio deepens the sense of Robert’s solitude, underscoring his smallness in the vast sweep of history.
At the film’s centre, surrounded by the majestic Idaho wilderness, Joel Edgerton delivers an expressive performance of quiet brilliance as Robert. Long overlooked, the Australian actor brings subtlety and depth that may well mark the pinnacle of his career. His near-silent portrayal perfectly aligns with Bentley’s vision, letting silence and the National’s Bryce Dessner’s evocative score fill the spaces where words might fail. The era’s superstitions and Robert’s limited grasp of the modern world invite moments of gentle magic, as he interprets strange happenings through the lens of old myths and tales shared by fellow loggers, from ancient Chinese curses to rumours of wolf-children in the woods. These beliefs, however improbable, reveal Robert’s deep-seated guilt as he searches for meaning in misfortune rather than confronting the harsh realities of his dangerous, inconsequential life.
Though I have yet to read Johnson’s novella, all signs point to this being a faithful adaptation. Bentley’s bold, visionary approach transforms an ordinary story into something quietly extraordinary, deepening the novella’s themes and elevating them through the artistry of film.
The Verdict:
This film’s quiet power and unhurried storytelling may not suit every viewer, but for those open to its spell, Clint Bentley’s creation offers a profound emotional journey. It lingers with the haunting reminder of one man’s life and our own smallness in the world. It is not the comfort we seek, but its resonance will outlast nearly every film I have seen this year.
Train Dreams is now available to stream on Netflix
Dan Loves Film 
It’s genuinely moving without sentimentalization, something few films are able to accomplish.
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