Film Review - Snowpiercer

With Netflix due to release their new blockbuster mini-series "Snowpiercer" this Monday (25/03/20), I thought that I'd take a look at the 2013 movie on which it's based and see what all the fuss is about.

In a future where a failed climate-change experiment has killed all life except for the lucky few who boarded the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe, a new class system emerges.

(Plot summary courtesy of IMDB.com)

Starring Chris Evans (The Avengers), Ed Harries (The Truman Show, Apollo 13), Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures, The Shape of Water), Tilda Swinton (Vanilla Sky, We Need To Talk About Kevin) and a few other familiar faces, "Snowpiercer" (2013) is written and directed by Bong Joon Ho who has just won multiple Oscars for the highly acclaimed "Parasite", so there's plenty of talent on board. The sci-fi premise (based on the original French graphic novel, Le Transperceneige) is also very interesting and indeed, even more timely now than on initial release as it looks at issues of climate change, social inequality and ultimately, the survival of the human race.

However, whilst the set-up is good and the story is driven well by the social revolt of those at the back of the train fighting their way to the front, the main star of the piece is the production design of the train itself.

The very notion of a 1,001-cart bullet train continuously speeding around a frozen earth is exciting with lots of potential for danger and tension, but the changes in set-design and costume as we move between each of the carts is arguably the star of the show.

From the poor, dirty and crowded conditions at the back of the train, through the different levels of comfort and decadence towards the front, the design work from the Production Team - Ondrej Nekvasil (Production Design), Stefan Kovacik (Art Direction), Beata Brendtnerovà (Set Decoration), Catherine George (Costume Design) - does just as much to re-enforce and tell the story of inequality as the performances and script.

Having said that, Tilda Swinton as Mason, spokesman for the creator of the train, is excellent (as always) and a stand out turn. By it's nature, the train is a bizarre world with a lot for the audience to accept, but you settle in for the ride as soon as you see her in the first few minutes. From the northern English accent, to the clothing and bucked teeth, you know immediately that we're not in Kansas anymore and you can mentally make the shift to run with whatever else the film has in store.

By contrast, the new Netflix series has Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind, Blood Diamond) cast in a more plain characterisation of this role (changed to Melanie Cavill but still the 'voice of the train'), so it will be interesting to see how she makes it her own and how it plays within this version of the story.

Chris Evans also does well as the 2013 films lead, Curtis, but his part as the main protagonist is to be the solid centre piece that everything else moves around. There's no real reason given as to why his character is so special (except just being told that he is) and there's not much flash or glory in his performance either, but this is vital in order to let the other characters and concepts shine as well as they do.

Hopefully, the extra time available in the series will give the producers the space needed to really expand this character - why is he special? How did he make it onto the train which is supposed to be "an arc for the rich"? Why is he at the back? On a personal note, I'm a massive fan of the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical "Hamilton", so I'm really excited to see original Broadway cast member, Daveed Diggs (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), in this role (changed from Curtis to Andre Layton) too.

Ultimately, there are a few exciting set-pieces through-out the film, but the story really rests on a single exposition heavy scene towards the end to carry it home and for me, this was just too much to stick the landing. However, this does make me really excited for the new Netflix series as the extra time (with a second series already ordered) should allow for a really rich exploration of this world and the characters, stories and themes within.

Rating 3/5

Netflix release the first two episodes of the new "Snowpiercer" series this Monday 25th May 2020 and then new episodes weekly.

I hope you've enjoyed this review and brief preview of the new Netflix version. If you have, I would love it if you could help spread the word with a social share below. You can also follow me @matthewrbuck on Instagram and Twitter or @mattbuckfilm on Facebook for updates on all new stories and articles too. Take care!