NIGHT TRAIN TO LISBON (2013) - Movie Review

Director: Bille August
Starring: Jeremy Irons, Martina Gedeck, Mélanie Laurent, Jack Huston, Tom Courtenay, August Diehl, Bruno Ganz, Lena Olin, Christopher Lee, Charlotte Rampling
Genre: Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Writer: Greg Latter, Ulrich Herrmann
Runtime: 111 min
Rated: Rated R for a scene of violence, and brief sexuality
Buy This Movie: DVD (Amazon), Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

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Synopsis:

Raimund Gregorius, having saved a beautiful Portuguese woman from leaping to her death, stumbles upon a mesmerizing book by a Portuguese author, which compels him to suddenly abandon the boring life he has led for years and to embark on an enthralling adventure. In search of the author, Gregorius acts as detective, pulling together pieces of a puzzle that involves political and emotional intrigue and the highest possible stakes. His voyage is one that transcends time and space, delving into the realms of history, medicine and love, all in search of true meaning to his life.

Review:

"Night Train to Lisbon" is maybe the most old-fashioned movie I've seen in quite a while. Sometimes that can be taken as a compliment, but in this movie's case it's both a good thing, and a bad thing. "The House of the Spirits" director Bille August reunites with Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons for a mystery drama that follows Raimund Gregorius, a smart, profound man, stuck in a mundane existence, who set off for Lisbon to uncover the mystery behind a book that resonates with him in ways that even he can't explain. As he discovers more about the book's author, Amadeu, played by Jack Huston of "Boardwalk Empire" fame, Raimund taps into a rich history filled with politics, intrigue and romance that will ultimately provide him with answers that have eluded him his entire life.

The film is based on a novel by Swiss writer Pascal Mercier, which I haven't read, but I've seen labeled as "philosophical" and "meditative". That would definitely explain the movie's uneven pace as it struggles to balance Raimund's moments of self-reflection and the countless recollections of past events by various characters illustrated via flashbacks. The story itself is engrossing, and while at times I was able to guess where the plot was going, other times I was caught off guard by some revelations. It also helps that August assembled an impressive ensemble of talented international actors, who provide memorable performances for each of their respective characters. A minor gripe is that the historical context isn't particularly well explored. I'm not saying a history lesson was required, but it would have certainly helped give the story a better feel of the time and place portrayed, and flesh out the political angle.

Production values are decent enough, it's well shot, and makes good use of its location. It's not groundbreaking cinema, but it's comfortably old-school. However, nothing really stands out, and that's the film's biggest problem. It's the kind of movie you'd expect to see on TV and leave it on if you don't have anything better to do. It has a warm and agreeable feel to it, and an interesting story, but it doesn't quite hit any philosophical depths. It skims the surface with lines of dialogue that the filmmakers thought would give it an air of profoundness and mystique, but it all ends up feeling cheap and preachy.

It's not a bad movie, just a deeply flawed one. The cast makes up for most of its shortcomings, making it easy to sit through, but you should go in with low expectations. After all is said and done, I'm afraid you might be better off just reading the book.

SCORE: 6.5/10