The Sidwell family is in desperate need of repair. You see, papa Nate just spent 18 months in the slammer. Real estate fraud, not a hard crime. Nonetheless, 18 months is 18 months. While his relationship is strong with his youngest son, it isn't so hot with his wife nor his teenage son. As if things weren't bad enough, a group of thieves just pulled a heist in Baton Rouge and are trying to escape into Mexico. They need some way to bypass the cops and as luck would have it they find a route by using the Sidwell family...
If you can say one thing about Transit, it is that it delivers a whole lot in a very short run-time (84 min).Car chases, fights, gun-play, and even a little family dynamic?! It is in this area that Transit really earns its points as you do care for what happens to Nate. Caviezel's Nate Sidwell is a broken man trying to mend, and Caviezel nails the part. He brings some real acting chops to the table, and actually makes you sympathize and care for Nate in what could have been a generic role. The film hinges on Nate trying to make things right with his family and what better way to do that than to save them from some vile criminal slime? Speaking of criminal slime, James Frain needs an honorable mention as Marek. Essentially he's the eye of the hurricane. Calm and collected while his partners in crime go all to hell with panic. Frain shows us a man who doesn't need to show menace as you know he is menace. I am not the only one with that opinion either it would seem as it won him a Best Villain Award at ActionFest.
How's the action you ask? Pretty damned good. While it veers towards more of a chase film than a straight up action flick, there is enough gun violence and fighting to go around. The chase scenes are the main player here and for the most part they deliver. What doesn't make a whole lot of sense though is how the villains can drive such a loud noticeable car yet no one can hear it. Stealth mode anyone? If it wasn't for the crisp clean cinematography this could pass for a 70's B-thriller that while isn't anything new, gets more right than wrong in it's short run time.
