The Last Movie I Saw

Unstoppable, directed by Tony Scott and starring Denzel Washington, is the kind of movie that would've held down the bottom end of a mid-week double feature back in the old days of film exhibition (that is, when they still had double features). It's plot, characters, setting, etc. are all grade B at best despite the top-line talent involved. That's not a bad thing, but it kind of pains me to realize that millions and millions of dollars were devoted to creating this film, for no discernable reason except the prospect that enough people would see it to generate some profits for the makers. I know our system is based on that kind of commerce, and movies have always been mainly about producing hits, but why couldn't some of that money pay for some thoughtfulness or creativity. Or, if that's too much to ask, show some restraint and give this project to some youngster as a training exercise and do it on the cheap; lots of good movies (and no doubt profitable) were made that way once upon a time. Tony Scott has become a hack (maybe he always was), turning out this kind of big-budget pulp for years. His style is crisp and slick and soulless, and everything unfolds by the numbers to no ultimate payoff for the viewer, beyond 90 minutes of cheap thrills. Again, I don't see anything wrong with that on principle if it could be done without the obvious wastefulness. You know, like the old studio serials or pulp magazines which were noted for their cheapness, even when they included some first rate work. Maybe I'm just sour on this movie because it kicks off with some gratuitous union-bashing, but I'm pretty sure I won't remember much of anything about this a month from now other than it left me feeling disappointed.