Life rarely turns out like you’d expect. It’s made up of moments. Some of these moments are beautiful. Some of these moments are joyful. Some of these moments are ugly. Some of these moments will break your heart. But it’s a journey, and it’s one we all take.

Train Dreams, based on the short story from Denis Johnson, is about life in all its phases. The film is directed by Clint Bentley, who co-wrote the script with Greg Kwedar. It’s a thoughtful, beautifully crafted journey that doesn’t pull any punches.

The film follows Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a man living a beautifully simple life. He meets Gladys (Felicity Jones), and they fall in love. They marry and find an acre of land in the open country. Robert builds them a home, but to support his new family he takes a job as a logger that leads him away for long periods of time.

When he returns, his family has grown. He’s happy in his home with his wife and daughter. But he’s haunted by the often-dark things he sees while out working in the wild. He makes a plan to end that job and to find a way to support his family closer to home. But those plans never come to fruition as expected.

Still, Robert presses on. He finds ways to contribute. He meets new and interesting people along the way. He experience joy and sorrow, love and loss, all while going on the journey of his life in a world that’s rapidly changing.

Bentley and Kwedar teamed on the script for Sing Sing, a movie that was one of the most impactful released in 2024. That told a simple story, based on a real-life program, about men seeking hope and a second chance. It was rich, beautiful, and emotional.

Train Dreams isn’t the same topic. It’s not set in the same time, place, or world. And yet, it shares that same hopeful outlook despite the struggles and tragedies of life. In different hands, this could be a difficult story to sit with. Robert’s journey is far from easy and far from joyous throughout, and yet there is beauty in it. There is a beauty that he comes to realize and appreciate as we make the journey.

There’s also a lot of beauty in the way the story is told and the way it’s captured. The cinematic landscape, which features plenty of wide-open spaces, is nothing short of breath-taking. This is one of the most beautifully shot films of the year.

I love the gentle score and the narration that undergirds the production. It helps you feel like you’re going along on this journey. And Edgerton does a beautiful job in the lead role, conveying so much depth often without the need for dialogue. This is well worth checking out.

Train Dreams streams on Netflix Friday, November 21.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.