Rails & Ties Reviews

In common with her famous actor/filmmaker father, Ms. Eastwood seems to have an instinctual grasp of the petty grievances and triumphs of working-class American life.

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Feels so forced and determined to convey a certain emotion that its authenticity is lost. And when there's no sense of authenticity, there's no emotional attachment.

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Kevin Bacon turns in a solid, attention grabbing performance as a rigid, scornful man in a deep funk just trying to cling to a familiar world disintegrating all around him.

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DVD is the perfect place for a movie like Rails & Ties. Somehow it's easier to block out the often forced nature of the plot and just enjoy the rich performances and the humane themes.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4

Alison Eastwood has created a film of quiet delicacy, something fragile yet resolute, and shot through with a life affirming thread that is brave enough to suggest that sometimes life does indeed blossom from tragedy.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10

It's hard to get over the implausibility of the premise in Micky Levy's script, even though the characters themselves acknowledge that they're in a ridiculous situation.

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The metaphors flow almost as freely as the tears in this sentimental weepie.

Full Review | Original Score: C-

There's just not much here to recommend at all.

One highly unlikely circumstance after another become laughable, preventing you from being moved by the family tragedies depicted. They beg for tears, but a script this chock-full of holes is unlikely to elicit the desired effect.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/4

Everyone involved will move on to bigger and better things and leave this series of unfortunate events behind on the tracks, waiting for a midnight train to put it out of its considerable misery.

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I think somehow the filmmakers lost the way, lost sight of the people inside the plot.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4

The younger Eastwood tells her story with sledgehammer blows.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4

Either an unsuccessfully manipulative, sappy melodrama or the most deranged concept for a family sitcom anyone has ever developed.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4

All the astute acting in the world can't bring such a preposterous story into the station on time and intact.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4

It's not all bad.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4

In the right hands, this might be the stuff of compelling cinema. Instead, Rails and Ties sinks into melodrama.

Full Review | Original Score: C-

While it has the appearance of a made-for-TV weepie, it's well-acted, technically proficient, a solid story with genuine, credible emotions.

Full Review | Original Score: B-

...ultimately redeemed by Kevin Bacon's expectedly engrossing performance.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4

It's closer to a small kind of affecting and simply human story we rarely get to see in mainstream movies anymore.

| Original Score: 3/5

While it features three strong performance and the debut of a promising filmmaker, the story line is obvious and rather melodramatic.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4