Strong casting, impressive direction and generally sharp writing (from an old TV script) make The Incident a very fine episodic drama about two toughs who intimidate passengers on a NY subway train.
Some overexposition and relaxed editing flag the pace, but, overall, the production is a candid indictment, in situation and in dialog, of alienation.
Baehr’s screenplay spotlights Tony Musante and Martin Sheen, out-for-kicks pair, who terrorize 16 train riders. Latter include soldiers Beau Bridges and Bob Bannard, middle-class couple Ed McMahon and Diana Van Der Vlis (with child), elderly marrieds Jack Gilford and Thelma Ritter. The two toughs lay bare the weaknesses in all characters.
