The Man on the Train Movie Review 2002

A chance encounter between two very different men offers viewers subtle pleasures. Elderly retired teacher Manesquier (Rochefort) is intrigued when weary, leather-jacketed stranger Milan (Hallyday) turns up in his small provincial town. Since the only hotel is closed, the bored Manesquier offers Milan hospitality. He shows little concern after realizing that Milan is a thief, who is waiting for his dim partner to turn up so that they can rob the local bank. Manesquier has always led a proper dull life while Milan has done just the opposite and they begin to envy each other as an odd friendship develops. Old-pro Rochefort, in his seventh film with Leconte, is engaging while French pop icon Hallyday offers a surprisingly strong performance that is a mixture of machismo and sensitivity. French with subtitles.

Distribution

Paramount Home Video, 5555 Melrose Ave., 5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, Phone: (323)956-5000, URL: http://www.paramount.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 90 minutes.
Originally from French.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Growing Older, Buddies

Screenplay

Claude Klotz

Cast

Jean Rochefort, Johnny Hallyday, Jean-Francois Stevenin, Charlie Nelson, Isabelle Petit-Jacques, Edith Scob, Pascal Parmentier

Cinematography

Jean-Marie Drejou

Director

Patrice Leconte

Music

Pascal Esteve

Other

Paul Laine, Joelle Hache, Anne Perier, Ivan Maussion

Producer

Philippe Carcassonne, Cine B, Rhone Alps Cinema, Pandora Film, Zoulou Films, Tubedale Films, Paramount Classics

Awards

L.A. Film Critics 2003: Foreign Film.