Rails & Ties...Eastwood's daughter directs!

Occasionally, life's path twists and turns in unfathomable ways with no apparent rhyme or reason; but, each step may ring true along the way, nonetheless.

Such is the case with Kevin Bacon's theatrical release aptly titled "RAILS & TIES".

Imagine this scenario...

In one part of town , a desperate mother prepares to commit suicide to end her emotional pain.

Across town - another struggles valiantly to deal with a terminal illness which threatens to end her life - long before she's prepared to let go.

What kind of justice does God mete out, anyway?

Fortunately, the filmmakers don't venture there.

Instead, with a competent no-nonsense first-time director at the helm - Alison Eastwood (yeah, Clint's daughter) - a thought-provoking tale unfolds which impacts.

Through a glass darkly, universal themes about - survival, forgiveness, and compassion - rear their ugly head.

Without any apologies, the filmmakers force the audience to stare mortality in the face!

An engineer is barrellin' down the track one crisp morning when he spies a car parked on the rails ahead.

In a split second, the railroad worker (Bacon) must render a tough decision.

Should he tug on the emergency brake - in a bold-faced effort to avoid hitting the car - and run the risk of derailing the train?

Or - in the alternative - play it by-the-book.

When a young mother dies because of the difficult choice he makes, there is a full-scale investigation, and Bacon is placed on suspension until such time as the facts can be determined.

To complicate matters, Bacon is not only forced to grapple with his wife's terminal illness, but suddenly deal with a reality that has somehow eluded him until now.

It gnaws at him - too late - that he hasn't been a particularly thoughtful or dotting husband.

Is it possible to still mend those wounds?

As Bacon's character deals with the dilemmas, the young man who lost his mother in the rail tragedy, arrives on his doorstep demanding answers.

Well, maybe God's mysterious plan is suddenly apparent, and the Universe is unfolding as it should!

"Rails & Ties" is a modest film in many respects.

But, it is so beautifully crafted - that in one unsuspecting moment - it will tear at your heartstrings - with devastating effects

As usual, Marcia Gay Harden was a revelation in a finely-tuned performance.

Mr. Bacon delivered a measured understated performance - a little too minimalist in nature for my taste at times - but kudos to the maturing actor for pulling off a characterization that does resonate.

As to Alison Eastwood - well - it's evident she has a great directorial career ahead of her.

I, for one, shall be looking forward to her next project with great enthusiasm, whatever it may be.