This New 95%-Rated Movie From 'Sing Sing' Creators Is Netflix's Next Oscar Contender

The poetic indie drama Train Dreams, starring Joel Edgerton, is now available on Netflix. The movie impressed critics at the Sundance Film Festival and is poised to compete for an Oscar.

Train Dreams is an adaptation of Denis Johnson's novella and tells the story of a simple lumberjack whose fate prompts reflection on the eternal questions of existence.

What Is 'Train Dreams' About?

The movie traces the life of Robert Grainier, born in Idaho in the late 19th century, over 80 years. After being orphaned as a child, he learned the primary trades of the Pacific Northwest: logging and railroad construction.

His life seems simple and unremarkable at first: he meets his future wife, Gladys, has a daughter, and builds a house on the banks of a river.

However, Train Dreams is not just a chronicle of an ordinary person – it is a profound existential exploration. Although Robert is as far removed from centers of decision-making as possible, he constantly encounters the echoes of a larger history.

'Train Dreams' Is a Movie From Creators of the Critically Acclaimed 'Sing Sing'

Train Dreams is the work of indie duo Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, who have collaborated for the past 15 years. Last year, they made a name for themselves with the prison theater drama Sing Sing, which received three Oscar nominations.

Their new movie is also widely tipped as an awards season favorite. Perhaps Joel Edgerton, who plays the lead role, will finally earn a well-deserved nomination.

In Train Dreams, the creators' approach remains true to form, with attention to detail, deep humanity, and an ability to tell big stories through the lives of ordinary people.

'Train Dreams' Is a Melancholic and Stunningly Beautiful Movie That Asks Eternal Questions

Train Dreams reflects on the futility of searching for divine providence in a cruel world. Robert is constantly confronted with injustice in the form of accidents, murders, lynchings, and tragedies in his own life.

Yet, he also witnesses the beauty of the world, the nobility of people, and strange occurrences bordering on magical realism. Dreams of trains and a boot nailed to a tree in memory of a deceased person are a few of the images that form a complex poetic system.

Train Dreams is a sad and deliberately quiet film that speaks to the most important things: love and pain, loneliness, and the connection between all living things.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Train Dreams'?

• Train Dreams has 95% from critics and 83% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.6/10.

• On Letterboxd, Train Dreams scored 4.1/5.0.