Money Train (1995)

Very disappointed :(

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Released in 1995, "Money Train" is a crime thriller about two transit cops in New York City who are also foster brother (Wesley Snipes & Woody Harrelson). They both become infatuated with a new member of the team (Jennifer Lopez) while working under a stern boss (Robert Blake). Complications result when one of the brothers decides to rip-off the train carrying the subway's weekly revenue. Chris Cooper is on hand as a wicked thug. This is essentially a buddy cop thriller taking place in the New York subways. Snipes & Harrelson have great chemistry and Lopez is ravishing. Speaking of Jennifer, one critic emphasized that she supposedly "does nothing in this film," but that's simply not true. Her presence is necessary for several reasons, including creating tension between the leads. Besides, without her there'd be NO female characters and that would be criminal. The story is about cop life in the subway system and, to be expected, includes a runaway train sequence. But don't expect the realism of 2010's "Unstoppable" (which was based on a true story) or the mind-blowing greatness of 1985's "Runaway Train." "Money Train," by contrast, is like a comic book put to film; everything's amped-up to the point of being eye-rolling. The subplot about a scumbag who sets subway cashiers aflame came true in real life and thus authorities denounced the movie. Nevertheless, "Money Train" is entertaining for what it is and I found myself caught up in the world of the characters by the second half.Unfortunately, the message of the film is bad. I'm not going to go into detail because I don't want to give away spoilers, but the film basically supports the idea that loyalty to your brother (or your partner's brother) is the highest good, regardless of what idiotic, life-threatening havoc he creates. Blake's character is made out to be the villain when he's simply a demanding, authoritarian boss who's focused on getting the job done. So what? The real villain, aside from the pyromaniac, is the rash loser who wants to rip-off the subway fares of tax-paying citizens and threaten the lives of many innocents in the process. You'd have to be a total doofus to support him. So "Money Train" is an amusing thriller, well made in many ways, but it's sunk by its tortuous confusion of good and evil. The film runs 110 minutes and was shot in Manhattan with studio work done in Culver City, California. It was directed by Joseph Ruben from Doug Richardson's story. GRADE: C

A waist of money, I wish I would have seen captain America instead. A waist of money, I wish I would have seen captain America instead.A waist of money, I wish I would have seen captain America instead.A waist of money, I wish I would have seen captain America instead.A waist of money, I wish I would have seen captain America instead.A waist of money, I wish I would have seen captain America instead.A waist of money, I wish I would have seen captain America instead.A waist of money, I wish I would have seen captain America instead.A waist of money, I wish I would have seen captain America instead.A waist of money, I wish I would have seen captain America instead.A waist of money, I wish I would have seen captain America instead.A waist of money, I wish I would have seen captain America instead.A waist of money, I wish I would have seen captain America instead.

Money Train (1995): Dir: Joseph Ruben / Cast: Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson, Jennifer Lopez, Robert Blake, Chris Cooper: Title suggests theft in that the money is the riches and the train is the getaway. Unfortunately viewers missed that train and had to suffer through the entire film. Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson who previously starred in White Men Can't Jump are brothers and undercover cops in the subway area. Snipes looks out for adopted brother Harrelson who is constantly in trouble due to debt. Jennifer Lopez joins them thus causing romantic divisions. Trouble arises when Harrelson decides to rob the money train leading to an ending that applauds theft. Basically another buddy flick, with director Joseph Ruben handling the action effectively without a screenwriter anywhere to be evident. Snipes and Harrelson recite tired formulas where nothing is learned. Why this film could not concentrate more on their adopted relationship is beyond me. Instead it is more or less an excuse to pair the actors up again in hopes of repeating previous success. Lopez is a romantic prop with little purpose here other than to unintentionally cause a brief division between the duo cops. Robert Blake is forgettable as the foul mouth ranting supervisor. Message of theft and brotherhood sidelined for pure nonsense. Viewers should let this train wreck pass them by. Score: 3 / 10

A film with not much depth except of course that of the subway, but the action is interesting in itself, and the number of stunt-men and stunt-women is there to prove it. A bureaucrat is at the head of the New York Transport Police Department (NYTPD for short and cop for even shorter) and for him there is only one thing that counts: the money train that gathers the inflowing money of the subway and takes it to the proper safe somewhere well protected. For him all human beings, his employees, those of the subway system and the passengers who probably are nothing but silent users, at least for him, are pawns on some draughts board, a game that some call checkers. In other words he is a pecuniary financial criminal if not assassin but he has his title and pedigree on his side: he is a gangster in an official authority job: he can have a kid killed if he decides so.The couple of cops that gets extended to a triad shortly after the beginning with a woman are just tense and living on the brink of a nervous breakdown all the time. One is black and cool, but over protective towards the other one he calls his brother and is white. That white man is addicted to cards and he is a great loser and like all losers he is addicted to losing in the name of the absolutely unproved fact that he may win one day. Read my lips and follow my eyes. You can see the social trashcan over there? That's where gamblers always end, except if they cheat and as long as they are not exposed.They have the tendency to always share and yet bitch about everything they share and they love each other so strong that they can break up and yet the black man will run after the white man (who is a psychic boy) within seconds after he knows his white brother is in danger or in jeopardy. And the girl will just do the same at the end and save the day.Out of frustration white boy decides to rob the money train of mister bureaucratic money-obsessed boss and he succeeds of course. But black boy comes running after him to prevent him from stealing the money. They will manage properly; the rest is for you to discover. But there is no surprise, nearly no surprise, well not too many surprises.Enjoy the action even if the film is as light as a leaf in the Fall, as for content. Typical of that easy going President they had in the USA then in 1995. Just forget about your PTSS and enjoy the sunshine on the beach.Dr Jacques COULARDEAU