Rails & Ties (2007)

33% of critics liked it
(48 reviews)
61% of users liked it
(9,904 ratings)

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 and Megan Stark had all the time in the world to take their dream vacation and start a family, but… More 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 and 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

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Alison Eastwood
Written By: Micky Levy
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Oct 26, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Jun 17, 2008
Studio: Warner Independent

Critic Reviews

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.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
There's just not much here to recommend at all.
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 to elicit the desired effect.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
I think somehow the filmmakers lost the way, lost sight of the people inside the plot.
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.
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.
Kelly Vance, East Bay Express
In common with her famous actor/filmmaker father, Ms. Eastwood seems to have an instinctual grasp of the petty grievances and triumphs of working-class American life.
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views
Feels so forced and determined to convey a certain emotion that its authenticity is lost. And when there's no sense of authenticity, there's no emotional attachment.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
Kevin Bacon turns in a solid, attention grabbing performance as a rigid, scornful man in a deep funk just trying to cling to a familiar world disintegrating all around him.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
Kevin Bacon turns in a solid, attention grabbing performance as a rigid, scornful man in a deep funk just trying to cling to a familiar world disintegrating all around him.
Mike McGranaghan, Aisle Seat
DVD is the perfect place for a movie like Rails & Ties. Somehow it's easier to block out the often forced nature of the plot and just enjoy the rich performances and the humane themes.
Brandon Fibbs, BrandonFibbs.com
Alison Eastwood has created a film of quiet delicacy, something fragile yet resolute, and shot through with a life affirming thread that is brave enough to suggest that sometimes life does indeed blossom from tragedy.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
The metaphors flow almost as freely as the tears in this sentimental weepie.
Brian Tallerico, The Deadbolt
Everyone involved will move on to bigger and better things and leave this series of unfortunate events behind on the tracks, waiting for a midnight train to put it out of its considerable misery.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
The younger Eastwood tells her story with sledgehammer blows.
Mark Dujsik, Mark Reviews Movies
Either an unsuccessfully manipulative, sappy melodrama or the most deranged concept for a family sitcom anyone has ever developed.
Eric Lurio, Entertainment Insiders
It's not all bad.
Matthew Shaer, Christian Science Monitor
In the right hands, this might be the stuff of compelling cinema. Instead, Rails and Ties sinks into melodrama.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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)

Featured Audience Ratings

Leigh R

Heartbreaking.
Red L

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… More
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 crossing - 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.
Walter M

[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… More
[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 hands 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]
Sol C

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.… More
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. Bacon, 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.
Daisy M

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… More
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 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!
Leo L

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.

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Kevin Bacon as Tom Stark

            Marcia Gay Harden as Megan Stark

            Miles Heizer as Davey Danner

            Marin Hinkle as Renee

            Eugene Byrd as Otis Higgs

            Bonnie Root as Laura Danncer

            Steve Eastin as N.B. Garcia

            Laura Ceron as Susan Garcia

            Margo Martindale as Judy Neasy

            Kathryn Joosten as Mrs. Brown

            Steven M. Porter as Howie Pugh

            Jim Cody Williams as Vince the Engineer

            Kerri Randles as Rosanna

            J. Stephen Peace as Bartender

            Robert Harvey as Administrator #1

            Michael Otis as Administrator #2

            Ernest Harden Jr. as Official #1

            Mike McCaul as Official #2

            Maya Goldsmith as Sheila

            Michael Raynor as Detective Christian Fox

            Micky Levy as Detective Ann Crane

            John Nielsen as Dr. Offenberger

            Dennis Napolitano as Piano Teacher

            Mary Beth McDade as News Reporter

            Brian Bogulski as Workman #1

            Jade Marx as Nurse #1

            Nathan Kornelis as Father

            Dalton Stumbo as Child
See full cast