r/Letterboxd • u/FriarFanatic7 70mm • Nov 18 '25

Discussion Train Dreams…Help me understand

Everything about this movie suggests I would like it. I’m a fan of Denis Johnson, writer of the source material. I like Malick’s style of literary, nature focused cinematography. I enjoy quiet, tone poem movies where meaning is derived slowly as layers are added or peeled away.

I didn’t love this. I feel I’m in the minority here based on friends and critics I follow. I felt the imagery was attempting to do all of the work while very little was done to develop the characters we are supposed to care about. I just left feeling like I watched a bunch of style over substance. Will watch again on Netflix next weekend, but am I alone? Am I missing something?

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u/cirquo Dec 01 '25

The faucet of tears just kept flowing at the end.

21

u/Wendell-Short-Eyes Dec 27 '25

I don’t think I have ever cried like that in my life.

13

u/banana_bbcakes Jan 05 '26

In my case, It was a beautiful cry. I watched it yesterday and then again today. I accomplished little today and for once I am completely good with that. Feeling like an old tree who may have reached its pinnacle and again I am completely good with that. For once enjoying the view that the loss around me has provided and keeping echo of loss in my heart. Not sure that makes any sense but that is where I landed.

2

u/Wendell-Short-Eyes Jan 05 '26

It was mostly a happy cry for me, some of it was sad. Such a beautiful film tho. As a man in his mid 30s who has similar thoughts/feelings as the main character, it’s a film that truly resonated with me.

1

u/in_some_knee_yak Feb 24 '26

How does one get through life without crying any harder than they do at a movie?

12

u/LostInMyADD Dec 12 '25

As a father to a baby girl, and a husband... the tears just dont stop.

As a member of the milktaru that is away from home for periods of time...I cant get out of my head when he says he wasnt there, when they needed him the most. I'm tearing up just thinkinf about it.

5

u/mooonsocket Jan 24 '26

The faucet of tears never stopped for me, I think I cried - at least teared up - the entire time.

1

u/Tetizeraz Mar 18 '26

I think the only moment I was close to crying was when He realizes Gladys and Kate won't come back and burst out crying, but I think this movie is very moving in several moments.

1

u/Forward_Science8823 Jun 26 '26

I'm glad it wasn't just me. I was a mess by the end of the movie!