Man On The Train

It is rare that a re-make exceeds the original, but such is the case with the newest version of MAN ON THE TRAIN, a Canadian/Irish co-production directed by Mary McGuckian. The film is a scene-for-scene remake of French director Patrick Leconte’s 2002 film, which won the Best Foreign Language Film prize from both the Los Angeles and Florida Film Critics Associations. The film screens at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival this week as the Festival Centerpiece Film and as a showcase for musician-turned-drummer Larry Mullen Jr., who will receive the Festival’s Star On the Horizon Award.

The film tells the story of an unlikely encounter between two polar opposites on the train. A mysterious criminal (Mullen) rolls into a small town planning to knock off the local bank, assuming it will go off without a hitch. But when he encounters a retired poetry professor (played by veteran actor Donald Sutherland) on the train, his plans take an unlikely turn. With no place to stay, the professor generously welcomes him into his home. As the two men talk, a bond forms between these two polar opposites, and surprising moments of humor and compassion emerge. As they begin to understand each other more, they each examine the choices they’ve made in their lives, secretly longing to live the type of lifestyle the other man has lived and escape their own.

Larry Mullen Jr., the award recipient, makes his acting debut in the film. He was born and raised in a small town on the north side of Dublin, Ireland. He is best known as the drummer of the rock group U2, one of the most successful rock and roll bands in history. Aside from his work with U2, Mullen has collaborated with such artists as Nanci Griffith, Daniel Lanois, Emmylou Harris, Robbie Robertson and B.B. King, and also having scored the anthem for the Irish National Football Team. He is currently producing soundtracks for a number of film projects. Mullen will receive his accolade via Skype on November 1.

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