All Aboard for Netflix's Train Dreams: Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, William H. Macy and Kerry Condon Lead a Must-See Epic
Netflix’s Train Dreams barrels in with Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones leading a stark, ravishing take on Denis Johnson’s novel, as William H. Macy and Kerry Condon join the ride to unpack the film’s epic sweep and haunting imagery.
Netflix has a bunch of awards bait lined up this year, but the one that quietly snuck up and grabbed the conversation is Clint Bentley's 'Train Dreams'. Not the loudest title on the slate, but it sure feels like the one that could dominate nominations.
The setup
Quick context: Netflix is rolling out Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein', Kathryn Bigelow's 'A House of Dynamite', and Noah Baumbach's 'Jay Kelly' — all with real Oscar chatter. Still, the movie making the strongest run right now is the unflashy one about a logger in Idaho.
What 'Train Dreams' is actually about
Adapted from Denis Johnson's novel, 'Train Dreams' tracks the life of Robert Grainer (Joel Edgerton), a logger at the turn of the 20th century building a life with his wife (Felicity Jones) and their child in Idaho. Early on, Grainer witnesses something horrific: a group of white railroad workers murder a Chinese laborer they accuse of stealing. That violence hangs over everything that follows, as Grainer navigates loss, survival, and a country changing faster than he can.
The movie's trick is simple and kind of beautiful: it treats an ordinary life as something epic, without ever tipping into melodrama.
Where to watch, and why people are buzzing
It hit Netflix last Friday and is streaming now. Since landing, it has blown up on social media — lots of raves on X and Letterboxd about the mood and the imagery, but the performances are what people keep circling back to.
Cast, director, and a few telling details
Clint Bentley directs, and the cast has some interesting wrinkles around it:
- Joel Edgerton leads as Grainer, and in recent interviews he mentioned he tried to option Johnson's book years ago, long before he was cast. That little behind-the-scenes nugget tracks with how locked-in he is here.
- Felicity Jones plays Grainer's wife, a role that mostly exists in memory and fragments. She has talked about the challenge of making that feel like a full person.
- William H. Macy and Kerry Condon pop up in smaller roles. Both have spoken about being proud to be part of it; they also both own remote homes and said they hope the film nudges people to reconnect with nature. It fits the movie's headspace.
The awards angle
On paper, this should be the year of monsters, bombs, and Baumbach. But the momentum belongs to 'Train Dreams' — the quiet one that sneaks up on you and then refuses to leave.
'I doubt you will see a better film than Train Dreams this year.'