Rails & Ties poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Kevin Bacon, Marcia Gay Harden, Miles Heizer, Marin Hinkle, Eugene Byrd ... see more see more... , Bonnie Root , Steve Eastin , Laura Ceron , Margo Martindale , Kathryn Joosten , Steven M. Porter , Jim Cody Williams , Kerri Randles , J. Stephen Peace , Robert Harvey , Michael Otis , Ernest Harden Jr. , Mike McCaul , Maya Goldsmith , Michael Raynor , Micky Levy , John Nielsen , Dennis Napolitano , Mary Beth McDade , Brian Bogulski , Jade Marx , Nathan Kornelis , Dalton Stumbo

Kevin Bacon, Marcia Gay Harden, and Miles Heizer star in director Alison Eastwood's tale of two families locked into an emotional -- and physical -- collision course. There once was a time when Tom an... read more read more...d Megan Stark had all the time in the world to take their dream vacation and start a family, but these days the couple's marriage is suffering and their time appears to be running short. Megan has been diagnosed with a potentially terminal illness, and when the prospect of losing his wife becomes too much to bear, railroad engineer Tom seeks escape in his work. On the tracks Tom is in control; all the routes are predetermined and he knows he'll eventually arrive at his destination. But sometimes even the most predictable events can go suddenly awry, and when Tom's train hits a car that was parked on the tracks by a suicidal mother, his life is plunged into ruin. While there was no way that Tom could have possibly stopped the train on time, the grieving conductor's woes are suddenly compounded upon realizing that he may lose his job because of the accident. Not only that, but the deceased woman's son, Davey, is consumed by the guilt that he could do nothing to prevent the accident, and he now places the blame for his mother's death squarely on Tom. But not all sad stories have to end in tragedy, and perhaps in the aftermath of this fateful accident Megan could receive a second chance at fulfilling her dreams, Tom could learn to open his heart before he is consumed by bitterness, and Davey could finally learn the true meaning of family. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

61% liked it

9,904 ratings

Critics

33% liked it

48 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 41 min.

Directed by: Alison Eastwood

Release Date: October 26, 2007

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: June 17, 2008

Get It:

Stats: 395 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

rails & ties movie premiere rails & ties movie premiere rails & ties movie premiere rails & ties movie premiere rails & ties movie premiere rails & ties movie premiere rails & ties movie premiere Rails & Ties
Upload a Photo | View All Rails & Ties Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (395)

  • dreamfaeries
    August 10, 2009
    dreamfaeries
    Heartbreaking.
  • Redlats
    May 28, 2009
    Redlats
    Kevin Bacon is Tom and Marcia Gay Harden is Megan - a couple who are having difficulties with their marriage. Not only that, but Megan has cancer. Tom withdraws into his work - as a railroad engineer, but even that is messed up when he crashes his train into a car parked on a c... read morerossing - killing a suicidal mother.

    When the 11 year-old son of that suicidal mother comes to Tom's house to accuse him of killing his mom, Megan sort-of adopts him - and perhaps all three of them can begin to heal.
  • gator681
    March 14, 2009
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]In "Rails and Ties," Tom(Kevin Bacon), a train engineer, is advised to take some time off to care for his wife Megan(Marcia Gay Harden) who is dying of breast cancer. He refuses, trying to bury himself in his work. But that decision is taken out of his hand... read mores when Laura(Bonnie Root) drives her car onto the tracks in front of his train. Tom goes by the book and slows down, not hitting the emergency brake which could cause a derailment. Luckily, her 11-year old son David(Miles Heizer) escapes unscathed before the car is totaled, killing his mother. After the crash, Tom is suspended, pending a hearing and investigation. When he gets home, Megan shows interest in learning how to play the piano and visiting San Francisco, one of the stops on his route(more or less). Meanwhile, David runs away from his foster mother(Margo Martindale).[/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]While stretching credibility to the breaking point, "Rails and Ties" still manages to be worthwhile due to its raw intensity and honesty in exploring mortality which can make us see how precious the little things in life really are.(At least, it does not put train travel into the mortality equation.) And excellent performances from Kevin Bacon and Marcia Gay Harden certainly help. [/font]
  • SC007
    January 25, 2009
    SC007
    Alison Eastwod hits a double in her directorial debut. Alison was great in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Here, she shows that she has strong potential to be a good director, just like her dad, Clint. Her editing and directing style seems similar to her dad's style. Bac... read moreon, Harden, and Heizer's performances make the film worth watching. On the negative, I didn't like how Alison used the fade out transition throughout the film. The pacing of the film is also off and some scenes were too slow.
  • mvieaddict
    April 18, 2009
    mvieaddict
    Kevin Bacon, Marcia Gay Harden and Miles Heizer made me believe that I was looking into their lives and Alison Eastwood's direction clearly had something to do with that. The script however was unbelievable. But then again, does it really matter? When it turn to movies, it let us... read more escape from reality.
    I enjoy a movie that can bring me into their world and this ones had. I will look forward to see more of Alison Eastwood!
  • ileo
    June 29, 2008
    ileo
    Here's a great movie with a remarkable story plot about human nature. Love. Bond. Loss. Death. Life. These are all essential within the story of two individuals, a man and a young boy brought together by a certain loss. Great cast. Fantastic work by Alison Eastwood. A must-see.
  • elesterw
    January 4, 2010
    elesterw
    Great ensemble of characters and a very life-like scenario that reminds you of the inherent goodness in human nature that god has placed in us.
  • Greggamus
    September 19, 2009
    Greggamus
    Very moving and touching in my opinion. Probably the only Drama type movie I wouldnt mind watching again and again. It had such strong emotions played through out the film. Just wish there was more of an visual background story on the suicidal mother and her son. Like, let us see... read more them days before the accident and how their lives were played out. There were times I some how became lost with the characters personality as if they were bi-polar or something, I dont know. The ending was nice and happy at least.
  • karyn8sons
    April 12, 2009
    karyn8sons
    I thought this movie had an outstanding premise, that premise being, we don't always get to choose the means by which people we need, who need us, are introduced into our lives.

    It was well made. Kudos to Alison Eastwood! She is her father's daughter.

    The screenplay... wel... read morel I can't help but wonder if it was written by someone Irish? The Irish have a particular gift for writing plots and subplots that are heart-wrenchingly SAD! This was that!!! But in the end, when it could have wrenched the last shred of anything like satisfaction from you, they instead left the ending at a point when you can belive that it all works out for good in the end.

    I normally favor movies that have a happy or at least a satisfying ending. While this movie leads you up to a profoundly sad conclusion, in the end, it frees you to choose how you want it to play out in your own mind.

    Kevin Bacon has never played a role badly in his life. Even when the role was bad to begin with, KB took it and made it better. This one won't win any awards for him but I was pleasantly surprised that in spite of less than perfect chemistry with Marcia Gay Harden, he even found a way to use that to his advantage and portray his character as not having the strength to face his wife's death at her side so he distances himself from her and from her suffering as well. Until Davey comes into their lives...

    To say more would give away too much. This is a movie that is sad in the same way that Seven Pounds is sad, but the story isn't as strong as 7# in my opinion. Definitely worth seeing but not something you'll miss if you don't.
  • ajp210
    November 11, 2008
    ajp210
    A little too jumpy with every characters emotions and thus it didn't seem that real. Bacon's character had the most depth out, but still wasn't able to make this movie very plump with substance.

View All Rails & Ties Reviews

Critic Reviews

Christy Lemire
January 2, 2008
Christy Lemire, Associated Press

It's hard to get over the implausibility of the premise in Micky Levy's script, even though the characters themselves acknowledge that they're in a ridiculous situation. Full Review

Richard Roeper
November 12, 2007
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

There's just not much here to recommend at all.

Ruthe Stein
November 9, 2007
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle

One highly unlikely circumstance after another become laughable, preventing you from being moved by the family tragedies depicted. They beg for tears, but a script this chock-full of holes is unlikely... Full Review

Roger Ebert
November 9, 2007
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

I think somehow the filmmakers lost the way, lost sight of the people inside the plot. Full Review

Michael Phillips
November 8, 2007
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

All the astute acting in the world can't bring such a preposterous story into the station on time and intact. Full Review

Claudia Puig
October 26, 2007
Claudia Puig, USA Today

While it features three strong performance and the debut of a promising filmmaker, the story line is obvious and rather melodramatic. Full Review

Peter Howell
October 26, 2007
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

[Director Alison] Eastwood has the advantage of two very fine actors, Kevin Bacon and Marcia Gay Harden, who have the ability to lift the most mediocre of material into another realm. Full Review

Stephen Whitty
October 26, 2007
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

A movie that should have had some more work done to it, and could have been better if it had, arrives with all its flaws carefully preserved. Full Review

Kyle Smith
October 26, 2007
Kyle Smith, New York Post

The only conceivable reason for Warner Bros. to (barely) release this mush is as a favor to Clint Eastwood, whose daughter Alison directed. Full Review

Jack Mathews
October 26, 2007
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

A modest but emotionally affecting drama. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

This list looks lonely.
Add a suggestion!

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Rails & Ties : Watch Free on TV

Rails & Ties Trivia

  • Which famous rock star got fired by director Kenneth Anger during the making of Lucifer Rising?  Answer »
  • In 'Ready to Rumble' who does Jimmy King defeat to regain his World Heavyweight Championship?  Answer »
  • Which famous rock guitarist wrote the music for the Charles Bronson movie Death Wish 2?  Answer »
More Rails & Ties Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Rails & Ties. Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Rails & Ties Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Rails & Ties to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?