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Clint EastwoodsThe15:17 to Pariscelebrates old-fashioned American heroism, and I like it in spite of its dumbbell infelicities.
The heroes are well-known.
Luckily, he barely knew how to use them.
The best luck of all is that Stone, Skarlatos, and Sadler were down the aisle.
The three would win the French Legion of Honor, but I doubt theyll win any Oscars.
Unsatisfied with the actors he auditioned, Eastwood decided to cast Stone, Skarlatos, and Sadler as themselves.
That might not have been a problem the three are good-looking and presentable.
But Eastwood is famously rehearsal-averse.
These guys like most people needed training.
He bore our sicknesses and carried our diseases … Jesus himself gave us the flu shot.
Eastwood is really playing to his base here.
The three boys bond in Catholic high school.
Fortunately, Stones faith is individualist and mighty.
Its a credit to Stone that he holds the screen even with all of his terrible lines.
He has real weight.
These Americans abroad might seem insignificant against a backdrop of Western European history and culture.
In the train sequence, the films rickety construction comes together, and all my cavils fall away.
Theres no music just screams, shots, and the sounds of flesh being stabbed and pummeled.
Were meant to think,If not them, who?
The final sequence ofThe15:17 to Parisuses shots of the actual French Legion of Honor presentation.
Im sure I wasnt alone in thinking I ought to stand up.
