Last Train to Freo (2006)

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

I got this movie out as a DVD recently, not knowing anything about it or the actors/director. My interest was due to the fact that it is set in Perth, where I'm from. It's a great small budget film in which all the action takes place on a train. The actors, especially the lead - the tall thug, are excellent and the script quite confronting, with snippets of humor throughout. The storyline is quite believable for anyone who's been even briefly annoyed with idiots/anti-social members of society acting-up on trains. My wife and I sat transfixed for the entire movie, which is pretty unusual. I certainly recommend this movie, although not if in the mood for a light, fluffy feel-good experience!

It's midnight and it's a hot steamy night, where two ex-cons catch the last train to Fremantle. A couple stops later a young lady enters the carriage, and their gaze catches her. Soon they're trying to sweet talk and capture her attention. Further along the line another two passengers enter the carriage and from then onwards it becomes something more than just your friendly get-to-know each other discussions.The last train to any destination can be a daunting experience, and this psychologically Australian character drama that rarely leaves its confined carriage setting and passenger's sets-up an experimental, stage-like experience of such exposition. We get to know the characters quite personally, as if you're right on board the train with them and it really relies on that intensity. A towering Steve Le Marquand (a show-stopping turn) and the spontaneous Tom Budge really drive this factor with their outstandingly raw and passionate theatrical performances of two ex-cons. They both really hold your interest. The gorgeous Gigi Edgley is confidently good too. What starts off as basic with trivial exchanges, unfolds into something more which is emotionally enthralling and boldly unpredictable with its dangerous undercurrent. The layout is kept rather taut with a cerebrally involving (and rapid tongue) script and multi-facet performances making up for the lack of action. The confronting interplay was enough to wet my appetite, even if it might have been a contrived screenplay it manages to feel fresh and authentic. Intimate photography and the decision not use any sort of music score added to the organic atmosphere. Instead it favoured natural sounds of everyday life… from the train announcer's voice to the humming nightlife coming outside the train. The slow-burn, low-key approach grows on you and has you waiting around to see how it all ends up. What's great about it, was it sticks to reality and doesn't go for anything big.

Last Train to Freo is a film worth seeing. It is a good, well acted, simple idea movie which really focuses strongly on the characters involved and you will stay in suspense as their stories continue to unfold.It will particularly appeal to the people of Western Australia as it was not only set there, it was filmed there (shock horror). This is a welcome change as the state has seen so many great films set in WA but filmed elsewhere through the likes of Gallipoli, Shine, Rabbit-Proof Fence, Wolf Creek to name a few. This is largely due to the WA government's continued stubbornness when it comes to funding films and any other area of arts for that matter. A real shame when the state continues to be a gold mine for talent. It's really no wonder then that anyone successful from Perth in film or music never really comes back. What may come as a surprise to some, is that most of the film was not filmed on an actual Transperth train, but a purpose made set which could have fooled any regular Transperth rail commuter, a real credit to the set production.It is a film where you as the viewer can really feel yourself being involved in and where you will possibly be asking yourself what you would do if you were put in such a situation. The characters all take turns in controlling the scene and they are also all put into a state of vulnerability. The film also touches on Perth's identity, as it has been burdened with the "Dullsville" tagline for quite a while. The most isolated city in the world has an identity crisis, with many in denial of such a claim. Trev's character seems hold some of the past of the State in his appearance: A Perth Football Club beanie from an era when WAFL was king, and a shirt from WA's 150th anniversary circa 1979. The film is set on a train which travels from Midland, through Perth, and onto Fremantle which is where the bulk of Perth's historical significance can be found. I hope this film is a real starting point for a new culture in Western Australia. Worth seeing.

This was an interesting film with some unusual elements. It's a story in real time and it has some real tension to it. I thought the characters were going to be caricatures, but was pleasantly surprised to find that mostly they were authentic.The film is based on a play, and at times this seemed evident (particularly the weaknesses). But because the story was original and different, it had a freshness and vitality to it.There were some minor contrivances and implausibilities in the first hour that I could easily overlook because of the strength of the performances and the genuine tension. The setting within an all but deserted train carriage was claustrophobic and chilling. For me, the film took a turn for the worse after an hour, that lead to aspects that just didn't ring true.Overall, it was a job well done by Jeremy Sims as first-time director, and worth seeing in one of the best years in Australian cinema for a very long time. There's been a great diversity of interesting stories. From the actors, I found the performances of Steve Le Marquand, Tom Budge and Gillian Jones the strongest. Gigi Edgeley was good but not consistent (perhaps that's the fault of the script).On a final note, for the life of me, I can't understand the Office of Film and Literature Classification's "MA" (equivalent to "R" in the US) on this film. Yes, there is a little violence and coarse language – but with the Hollywood shoot-em-ups that get through on an "M" rating, I can't see why this shouldn't also.