Rails & Ties

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Rails & Ties

PG-13

2007

1h 41m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

34%

Tomatometer

47 Reviews

58%

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10,000+ Ratings

Engineer Tom Stark (Kevin Bacon) kills a suicidal woman when his train slams into her car. Suspended from his job, he must confront his wife Megan's (Marcia Gay Harden) illness finally, but Megan announces she is going to leave him. Unexpectedly, the son (Miles Heizer) of the dead woman, arrives on the couple's doorstep and moves in with them.

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Critics Consensus

Despite the strong cast, Rails & Ties is an emotionally overwrought, not entirely believable melodrama.

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Christy Lemire

Associated Press

Jan 2, 2008

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.

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Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

Nov 12, 2007

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

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Ruthe Stein

San Francisco Chronicle

Nov 9, 2007

1/4

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.

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Martin Tsai

New York Sun

Apr 21, 2023

Unfortunately, here you get a Lifetime original movie with a bigger budget.

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Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

Apr 28, 2011

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.

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Ryan Cracknell

Movie Views

Jun 28, 2008

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.

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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 7, 2026

Rails & Ties is a 3 star Movie!!!

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 23, 2025

The worldwide gross is $22,136.00. Rated PG-13 for Brief Nudity, An Accident Scene, Mature Thematic Elements and Momentary Strong Language.

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Jul 30, 2015

A bit depressing and confusing not too bad though

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Jan 9, 2015

To lose one mother may be regarded as a misfortune

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Jan 6, 2014

From the very start of the movie you know exactly where it's going to end up and the journey up to that point isn't really that interesting.

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Jul 12, 2013

One star for the acting.

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Alison Eastwood

Director

Kevin Bacon

Tom Stark

Marcia Gay Harden

Megan Stark

Miles Heizer

Davey Danner

Marin Hinkle

Renee

Eugene Byrd

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Synopsis

Engineer Tom Stark (Kevin Bacon) kills a suicidal woman when his train slams into her car. Suspended from his job, he must confront his wife Megan's (Marcia Gay Harden) illness finally, but Megan announces she is going to leave him. Unexpectedly, the son (Miles Heizer) of the dead woman, arrives on the couple's doorstep and moves in with them.

Director: Alison Eastwood
Producer: Robert Lorenz, Peer J. Oppenheimer, Barrett Stuart
Screenwriter: Micky Levy
Distributor: Warner Independent
Production Co: Malpaso Company
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Nudity|An Accident Scene|Mature Thematic Elements|Momentary Strong Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 26, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 31, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $21.4K
Runtime: 1h 41m

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